Books about Astrology (Western, Hellenistic)

Hephaistio of Thebes

Apotelesmatics
Book I

Translated by
Robert Schmidt
Edited by
Robert Hand

Project Hindsight
Greek Track
Volume VI

The Golden Hind Press

Project Hindsight is funded entirely
by the astrological community through subscrip¬
tions and donations.

©Copyright 1994 by
Robert Schmidt

Published by The Golden Hind Press, P.O. Box 002,
Berkeley Springs, WV 25411.

Table of Contents

Introduction to Hephaistio of Thebes by Robert Hand.iii

Translator's Preface by Robert Sehmidt.viii

The Apotelesmatics of Hephaistio of Thebes . 1

First Universal Book. 1

Preface . 1

1. Concerning the Name and the Power of the Twelfth-parts . 3

2. Concerning the Power of the Seven Wandering Stars .... 25

3. Concerning the Power of the Fixed Stars.26

4. Concerning the Formations Farther North than the Zodiac . 28

5. Concerning the Formations Farther South than the Zodiac . 28

6. Concerning Trigons According to Dorotheas .30

7. The Places in Which the Stars Rejoice .30

8. Concerning Exaltations .30

9. Concerning Sections That Command and Those That Obey

.31

10. Concerning Sections of Equal Power and Those Seeing . . 31

11. Concerning Unconnected Sections.31

12. Concerning the Difference of the Places .32

13. Concerning Rulership and Co-rulership .32

14. Concerning Application and Separation .33

15. Concerning Enclosure .33

16. Concerning the Hurling of Rays .34

17. Concerning Spear-bearing .35

18. Concerning the Twelfth-parts That Are According to

Degrees.35

19. Concerning One's Own Face and Chariots and Thrones . . 36

20. Concerning Universal Investigations and Effects.37

21. Effects of the Eclipses and Comets That Arise.44

22. Concerning the Signs' During the Eclipse .51

23. Concerning the Indications of the Arising of the Dog Star and

of the Stars Accompanying It.53

24. Concerning the Colors in Eclipses and Comets.58

25. Concerning the Significance of Meteorological Phenomena
.61

Appendix I

Translation Conventions

Introduction to Hephaistio of Thebes

by

Robert Hand

There is not great deal of informklion about Hephaistio of Thebes. But
quite remarkably we have his birthchart. This is based on a single chart
repotted by NeugebaUer in Greek Horoscopes, L380 which according
to Pingree is his own chart. The chart is from Book 11 of the
Apotelesmatics and is given below with modern Koch cusps.

hour (we assume unequal hours) which equates to Nov. 26, 380 C.E. at

Alexandria,' Egypt, 31°N 12', 29‘’E 53' at about the noon overpass
(approx. 11:50 A.M. L.M.T.) This is all we know about Hephaistio's
life.

But as little as we know about his life, his work is very important
to us. Of the texts from the ancient world, Hephaistio's three books on
Apotelesmatics, along with the Tetrabiblos, have survived in the best
condition. The Apotelesmatics therefore gives us a most complete
picture of astrology as it was actually practiced in the ancient world. In
particular Hephaistio parallels and paraphrases a good deal of the
Tetrabiblos which may allow us to clarify some of the more ambiguous
passages of the Tetrabiblos.

But it is not only the completeness of this work and its explications
of Ptolemy that makes it important. Hephaistio appears to have set
himself the task of unifying what were by his time the two major
schools of Greek astrology, that of Ptolemy and that of Dorotheas of
Sidon. The differences between the two schools are too numerous to
describe completely in this introduction, however, a few major points
can be made.

Ptolemy's astrology is based primarily on the general signification
of the planets. Sun equals honor, Venus, beauty and love. Mars, war,
Jupiter, wealth and so forth. Houses are used but not strongly
emphasized. A planet's solar phase, oriental or occidental, and its
applications and separations to the other planets is emphasized over its
house position.

Ptolemy makes extensive use of five dignities and uses them
collectively to determine what planets have rulership over various parts
of the chart. The concept of what was later known as the Almuten
comes directly out of Ptolemy.^ Ptolemy's five dignities are domicile,
exaltation, triplicity, term, and phase or configuration.^ His use of lots.

' The location is assumed by Neugebauer and Pingiee.

^ However, unlike the Arab authors, Ptolemy does not use a weighting
system to give more weight to domicile and exaltation than the other dignities.

^ This fifth dignity is a considerable source of difficulty. The Middle Ages
and Renaissance saw it as the decanic face ruled by the planets in the Chaldean
order starting with Mars as the first decan mler of Aries. But there is absolutely
no justification for this in the Greek literature. In the Greek literature it is
always “phase or configuration.” This has been interpreted by some writers,
especially Ashmand, to be the “proper face” or Almugea, as the Arabs knew it.

known to us as “Arabic” parts, is limited to the Lot of Fortune.

Dorotheus on the other hand makes extensive use of houses in a
manner quite familiar to modern astrologers. His use of aspects is also
more developed than Ptolemy. He has dignities' similar to:Ptolemy but
does not use them in combination to find the ruler or Almuten. His
favorite dignity is the triplicity which for him is the most important
dignity,'' While later Western astrologers considered the triplicity an
intermediate level dignity, it was not unreasonable for Dorotheus to
make it the dominant one, for the dignity of triplicity is derived from
a combination of the dignities by domicile and exaltation. It is a kind
of Almuten dignity by itself. In fact it could be argued that for Ptolemy
to use the dignity by triplicity in combination with those of domicile
and exaltation is a kind of redundancy. Dorotheus also uses a large
array of lots in addition to the Lot of Fortune.

Aside from the emphasis on the dignity by tripUcity, Dorotheus is
closer to the astrology of the Middle Ages and Renaissance than
Ptolemy. Even after the reforms were made in the Renaissance to make
astrology closer to what was perceived to be Ptolemy's system, western
astrology has continued to be more Dorothean than Ptolemaic.

Hephaistio, and his synthesis of Ptolemy and Dorotheus, was
extremely influential in the Greek world. Several commentaries were
written on his work in the Byzantine period. But he does not seem to
have had much impact on Arabic astrology. As of this writing we are
not aware of any citations in Arabic astrology of Hephaistio's work,
although there are many citations of Ptolemy, Valens and Dorotheus.
We have no explanation for this phenomenon. Apparently he was never

See chapter 19 of this work. Your editor was also of this opinion until
discussing the matter with Robert Schmidt in connection with this work.
However, I have concluded that while this is not impossible, it is not the
simplest reading of the text. The Greek word for ‘phase’ from which our
English word comes usually refers to heliacal risings and settings. The word for
‘configuration’ usually means our aspect. What this implies is that any planet
that aspects a degree disposes of that degree and also any planet that is
heliacally rising in a degree does as well. This raises all manner of conceptual
difficulties which we are not yet prepared to deal with.

' His dignities are domicile, exaltation, triplicity and term. There does not
appear to be a fifth dignity.

' Almost invariably Dorotheus uses the state of the triplicity rulers to
determine the affairs of a house of an angle.

translated into Arabic.

However, we do have some evidence that while Hephaistio may not
have had much influence upon Arabic astrology directly, he may have
had at least an indirect influence. I have recently come across an
English translation of an Arabic work from the Middle Ages. The
English translation is entitled A Jerusalem Christian Treatise oh
Astrology} It shows two clear indications of coming either from
Hephaistio or from a similar tradition.

In Book I of the Apotelesmatics Hephaistio has two items that are
particularly interesting because, if for no other reason, they are peculiar;
the most extensive interpretation of the decans to be found in any
ancient work thus far, and interpretations for the year based on the
rising of the star Sirius. Both of these are to he found in this little
Arabic text. Hephaistio and the Arabic text do not agree in every detail,
but there is a definite similarity of content.

Highlights of Book I

There are many things in Book I that should be of interest. As Schmidt
points in the Translator's Preface we have several basic concepts
mentioned by other authors defined once again in ways that allow us to
get a deeper understanding of what they mean. We have the close
paraphrasing of Ptolemy that should help the reader to get a better
understanding of parts of Ptolemy, although it must be admitted that
quite often Hephaistio is so close to Ptolemy that the text, and
consequently the information, is virtually identical.

There are three items of special interest in Book I. First of all, as
mentioned above, we have the most extensive delineations of the effects
of rising decans that we have found in any ancient material. Other
works, such as the Liber Hermetis have given us images to be
associated with the decans, but not delineations. Strangely enough
Hephaistio gives us absolutely nothing about the signs, themselves, only
the decans.

Second we have the material relating to the rising of Sirius. There

* Translated by Gladys Dickson, Sure Fire Press, Edmonds, Washington,
1989. This is obviously a reprint of a 19th Century work. The translation gives
absolutely no information about the date of the original, only that it was written
by an Orthodox Christian living under Arab rule.

is nothing like this anywhere else in the ancient literature. This is
clearly an Egyptian technique because the rising of Sirius at one time
heralded the rising of the Nile and was the basis of the Egyptian
calendar.

Third we have some of the most extensive literature on eclipses
anywhere in astrology. His basic methods are derived from Ptolemy, but
he goes way beyond Ptolemy in his interpretations.

Book I is an introductory book, yet it has much to offer. Books 11
and in will offer even more. In Book H we will see material on house
division, which was already becoming an issue, as well as material on
primary directions. In Book m we will see extensive material on
elections and horary questions.

As usual all notes outside of the introduction are those of the translator,
Robert Schmidt, except for those marked with an [RH].

Translator's Preface
by

Robert Schmidt

This translation of Hephaistio's Apotelesmatics has been done from the
critical edition of the Greek text edited by Pingree (Teubner, 1973). As
far as we know, it is the first translation of Hephaistio's Apotelesmatics
into any modem language.

Of the three books constituting the complete work, the first (here
translated) deals with introductory matters and universal (or mundane)
astrology, covering roughly the same range of material as is found in
Books I & II of the Tetrabiblos. The second deals with natal astrology,
summarizing and at the same time amplifying Books III & TV of the
Tetrabiblos. The third book may be our richest surviving Greek source
for electional and horary material, deriving principally from Dorotheus.

Although Book I reads in many cases like a very close paraphrase
of portions of Books I & 11 of the Tetrabiblos, it is also supplemented
with excerpts and paraphrases from Dorotheus and ancient Egyptian
sources. Hephaistio is in fact the major source of Greek fragments of
Dorotheus' astrological poem. And some modern scholars have
identified Hephaistio's “ancient Egyptians” with Nechepso and Petosiris,
and so we may have here some very close and extensive paraphrases
from their seminal textbook.

Hephaistios's practice is to use “the divine Ptolemy” for the general
articulation of astrological issues, and then supply the detail missing in
the Tetrabiblos from these other sources. Thus, in this first book we
also have extensive delineations of the decans, treatments of eclipses
sign by sign and hour by hour, specific predictions based on the heliacal
rising of Sirius, and the detailed significance of comets and other
meteorological phenomena.

As a matter of fact, there is so much detail here that it is beginning
to bother me a little. On the one hand, I do not see how the positions
of all those moles and the shapes of all those eyebrows and the fate of
being devoured by wild dogs could have been simply or originally
derived from the symbolism of the constellations and planets. In fact,
Hephaistio himself states that suitable zodiac imagery was originally
imposed on the stars on the basis of observed astrological effects in
those celestial locations, and not the other way around.

Yet, on the other hand, I do not see how these correlations could

have originally been inferred empirically from the examination and
comparison of a large number of births, even through centuries of
observation, as is often supposed. Too many celestial phenomena have
to be compared to too many mundane events. Why look to decans for
moles? And why the decans when rising?

It seems very anachronistic to me to regard the ancient astrologers
as empiricists in this modem sense (if in fact there is such a thing as
pure empiricism). If you considered something a sign from the gods,
you would not treat it the same way as a modem scientific researcher
does. You might regard certain facts as intrinsically more significant
than others, for example. It is not even obvious that you would be
searching for correlations that happen for the most part. You might give
certain paradigmatic births more weight than others; that of the king or
notable men, or the births from mothers who have undergone ritualistic
purification, or births attended and singled out by other portents, for
instance. All these latter possibilities would be more in keeping with
ancient philosophy.

And if such were your “philosophy of science”, then proper
astrological research methods would not consist of gathering together
a data pool firom a cross-section of humanity, under the presupposition
that any true astrological phenomenon should be one that happens for
the most part. It would consist instead of singling out the conspicuous
or paradigmatic individuals, and recording their fate and body markings.

Is this so different from the common astrological practice of
examining the charts of notable individuals? Isn't the underlying
presupposition here that the most outstanding or perfect individuals, not
the average individual, will be the most likely to exhibit the traits
associated with certain celestial configurations at birth, and that lesser
men will exhibit them more imperfectly? In this connection it is
interesting to recall the so-called eminence effect in the Gauquelin data:
that the more eminent an athlete, for example, the more likely it is that
he will have Mars in a critical sector.

In addition to all this new and detailed delineation material, we have
gotten as a windfall a better fix on a few basic astrological concepts:
that there was a second meaning of “co”-rulership we did not suspect
(section 13); that the fifth Greek dignity ‘phase’ was understood as
morning or evening rising (section 19); a more exact understanding of
the difference between hurling of rays with diurnal motion and casting
a glance with the transiting motion (section 16); the astronomical

meaning of ‘inclinations’ (section 5).

Hephaistio's own Greek is quite easy. The Dorotheus excerpts are in
verse, and contain some strange place names we have not been able to
identify as yet. Incidentally, we have left the countries transliterated and
unmodemized. All of these can be found in a standard classical
dictionary, except a few which have been so noted. No attempt has been
made to fully versify the Dorotheus excepts. They have been translated
literally, and we have only tried to give the reader barest taste of the
difference between Greek didactic poetry and narrative prose.

Also, Hephaistio's paraphrases of other writers can sometimes cause
difficulties because of their concision. For example, where Ptolemy
writes “productive by nature of the properties of Ares and of Hermes,”
Hephaistk) will have “productive by namre of the noun understood of
Ares and of Hermes.” This kind of ambiguity occurs rather often.

On the other hand, Hephaistio occasionally adds words or phrases
not found in the text of the Tetrabiblos as we have it. For example,
where Ptolemy lists “famine and locusts” as the afflictions of a certain
year, Hephaistio will add “and mice.”

Finally, there are a multitude of minor differences such as the use
of synonyms and different connectives that seem to contribute nothing
to clarifying the Tetrabiblos text itself.

All this leads me to wonder whether Hephaistio is merely
paraphrasing Ptolemy (as is usually thought to be the case), or whether
he and Ptolemy are both paraphrasing from a common source, such as
the Egyptian textbook of Nechepso and Petosiris, which was perhaps
written in an oracular and enigmatical fashion requiring exegesis. This
raises the interesting possibility that a number of Ptolemy's explicit
remarks on techniques may be his own interpretation of these ancient
writings.

While on the subject of oracular statement, let me warn the reader
that numerous predictions made on the basis of eclipses and peculiarities
of the heliacal rising of Sirius (attributed to Nechepso and Petosiris by
certain mbdem scholars) will sound ambiguous in this translation. They
will be something like this: Two kings will make war on each other,
and many slaves will be taken. Or: The king will invade Egypt, and a
great nation will fall. The problem here is that even though the
predicted event is highly specific, the subject to whom this fate applies
is often time left undetermined.

When I was revising the first draft of this translation, I spent a
great deal of time looking for little grammatical clues that would help
me understand which country was the subject and which the object in
a given sentence, or whose possession a certain object really was. After
tearing ray hair out for several days, I realized that this ambiguity was
intentional on the part of the writer. Or rather, that this is the kind of
discourse that oracles give. Oracular pronouncement does not affirm or
deny something of a given subject, thereby letting that subject appear
in an entirely new light (the Aristotelian understanding of logos or
declaratory speech). Nor does it lie, thereby concealing that same
subject partially or totally from view. Rather, it merely seems to point,
to an event, on the one hand, and to a subject on the other, in an
indeterminate connection. In the words of Heraclitus; “The lord whose
oracle is Delphi neither conceals nor reveals, but only gives a sign,”

But if this is true, it would mean that there is an intrinsic
indeterminacy in the astrological signification of celestial phenomena.
The heavens may be “telling,” but they are not doing so in declaratory
speech. In Greek philosophy, the diurnal motion is called the “Motion
of the Same” and it is responsible for the identity and sameness of
things, while the ecliptic motion is called the “Motion of the Other” and
it is responsible for all change. Similarly, in the Greek understanding of
language, a noun points to an entity, something that is self-same
throughout change and modification, while the verb refers to change or
action in time. Thus, the joining of noun to verb in a sentence is the
counterpart to the relating of Same and Other accomplished by the two
celestial motions. But the Greek astrologers evidently regarded the
relating of the Same and the Other in the visible universe as incomplete,
and they would naturally wish to reflect this imperfection in the kind of
language in which they made their predictions.

This is not to say that celestial phenomena signify just anything.
Rather, such and such a subject is involved in such and such an event.
But it is not specified exactly how he is involved. We might liken an
astrological statement to the differential equations that describe fluid
flow. When they are first applied to the water in your bathtub, they are
too general to be used for specific predictions. But when certain
“boundary conditions” are taken into account, fitting the general
equations to the specific conditions of your bathtub, the equations
become fully determinate, and from that point on can be used for
predictions. Similarly, the initial astrological statement of the heavens
may be too general to be totally relied upon. Ptolemy states again and

again that the astrologer must take the material element into account,
which is what the celestial influences have to work with. This is the
astrological equivalent of the maxim that you cannot make a sUk purse
out of a sow's ear. And modern astrologers have recognized that it may
be impossible to tell the sex of the native from a chart, for example, or
whether a person involved in a murder is the perpetrator or victim. But
once this information has been taken into account, then the predictions
can be rehably made more specific.

This is far from being “cold reading.” While the astrologer needs
certain input, certain “boundary conditions” in order to make his
“equations” more specific, he does not give that same information back,
but new predictions deduced from that initial information according to
astrological principles. Incidentally, I have not seen these factors
modeled in the statistical experiments designed to test an astrologer's
ability to read a chart.

Of course, it may happen that the astrologer is able to make a
correct prediction right from the outset without bothering about the
material conditions. This is probably due more to the limited range of
the boundary conditions for a given issue at a given time and place in
history—that is, the overall uniformity of the possible material
factors—than any fuller determinacy in what the actual celestial
phenomena signify. In feudal times, for instance, the possibilities of life
and work were more restricted than today, and certain predictions about
what one would do to earn a living could have been made more
specifically.

In view of all this, I should perhaps have made my own translations
of some of the predictions of the “ancient Egyptians” more ambiguous
than they are here. However, the final translation decisions will have to
await a deeper understanding of the issues here discussed.

The Apotelesmatics
of

Hephaistio of Thebes
First Universal Book*

Preface

Our aim here, O most excellent of friends Athanasios, is, God willing,
to set forth this handbook as something that can be quite easily
followed; it contains some commentary^ and an essay that has come to
us’ about what was said by the ancients concerning the stars, whether
signifying or causing or even in some other fashion encircling and
turning everything here under the Moon with their figures relative to
each other and to the earth, and with their phases and with their other
natural characteristics.

Let that which is hard to see in several matters, owing to the many
sides to such a study and the contingent nature of the inquiry and
knowledge, not trouble anyone with the opinion of that it is completely
incomprehensible, since most occurrences, and the most whole ones, do
so clearly exhibit a cause from the surrounding heavens; nor should
some shy away, saying on the one hand that fate rules over all, and on
the other that foreknowledge is useless for what will always and in
every way come to pasS. To which one must counter that it is indeed
hard for us and the most excellent of men to discern clearly the activity
of the heavens, but one must know that those who find fault with the
usefulness of this mode of perception disparage it without considering
any of the most authoritative reasons at all, but only this—that
foreknowledge of what will always and in every way be is superfluous,
and this quite simply and indiscriminately.

For, first of all, it is necessary to consider, just as the truth-loving
Ptolemy says, that even for the events that will necessarily result, the
unexpected is especially apt to cause delirious confusion and mad joy.

' Most of this introduction consists of summary from the first three books
of the Tetrabiblos.

’ hupmnesis.

’ hi eis hemas elthouses peiras.

while foreknowing habituates and trains the soul to attend to distant
events as though they were present, and prepares it to accept each of the
arriving events will peace and tranquillity.' Then, it must be considered
that one need not believe that all human matters are from some divine
and inescapable ordinance, there being simply no other cause able to
counteract for some of them. For, as regards the universal circumstances
in the world such as cataclysms, conflagrations, pestilences, necessity
prevails, since the lesser cause always yields to the greater. But for the
particular matters which are not so, those that meet with counteracting
causes can be easily reversed, and those that do not find them available
are subject to the first cause through ignorance and not through
necessity.

And one would wonder about the reason why all trust in the
possibility of foreknowledge in universal matters, and in its usefulness
for prevention, giving heed to powers of cooling for the summer, and
the reverse for the winter, and furthermore watching the indications of
the non-wandering stars for the safety of sailing departures, and
observing many other things, but for particular matters and for
individual idiosyncrasies, they do not beUeve that foreknowledge is
possible and yet is self-evident, since if we should happen to have
pre-cooled ourselves against burning heat in general, we will be less

However, I believe that just as it is the case with prognostic itself
that, even if it should not be altogether infallible, at least the possibility
of it has seemed worthy of the most serious attention, so in the same
fashion for the goal of prevention, though it too is not therapeutic for
everything, it is necessary that it be greeted and embraced for the
several things—however few or minor they should be—in which it is
therapeutic. Having come (so it seems) to these same conclusions, the
ancient Egyptians completely bound medicine to astronomical
prognostic through what they call iatromathematical systems, by means
of which they apply the remedies fittingly.

But it would be for another occasion to speak more exactly about
these matters. We will begin with the essay that has come to us on the
apotelesmatic doctrines of the ancients, giving heed as much as possible
to intelligibility and usefulness along with due conciseness.

‘ This is a Stoic statement of the purpose of astrology. [RH]

1. Concerning the Name and the Power of the Twelfth-parts

The ancients separated the zodiac into twelve sections, attributing a
name to each front the lesser living things' upon the earth that are for
the most part sympathetic, and placing their types in the stars in these
parts as it allows.

They made the beginning be from the spring section Aries, because
life begins anew, as it were, when the Sun passes from the southern to
the northern hemisphere to which our inhabited world is subordinated,
and because at that time the buds of plants are produced and the
swelling up of all our domestic animals takes place.

They called this twelfth-part Aries the head of the cosmos, house
of Ares, exaltation of the Sun about the 19th degree, equipartite, spring,
tropical, kingly, commanding, vocal, terresttial, nocturnal.^

And in general, it is full of thunder and hail. But in particular, its
preceding parts are barren and full of thunderstorms and wind due to
the indication of the equinox; the middle parts are temperate and
fruitful; the succeeding parts are feverish and pestilential, especially for
quadrupeds; the northern parts are scorching and destructive; the

" This may seem peculiar as Aries is usually considered to be a diurnal
sign. In the most common system the odd numbered signs are diurnal and the
even numbered signs nocmmal. In this text the following signs ate listed as
nocturnal: Aries, Cancer, Aquarius and Pisces. These signs are listed as diurnal:
Leo, Virgo, Scorpio, Sagittarius, and Capricorn. There are two possible
explanations for this.

First we could be dealing with a deviant tradition here. It may be that the
sect of the signs are exactly as listed. Among the Hindus there are alternate
traditions about which signs were diurnal and nocturnal.

However, there is a more likely possibility. All of the signs listed as
nocturnal are in the lunar half of the zodiac which extends from Aquarius
through Cancer. Similarly the signs listed as diurnal ate all in the solar half of
the zodiac which extends from Leo through Capricorn. Since the Moon is
nocturnal and the Sun diurnal, Hephaistio could be classifying the sect of the
signs according to the half of the zodiac each sign is in rather than according
to whether they ate odd or even. The signs that are not classified could simply
be the result of omissions. [RH]

3

southern parts are icy and chilling.’

To this are subject:

Ancient Babylon, town of Tyrian Belos,

Hindmost Arabia, neighbor of the land of Egypt.

According to Ptolemy: Brittania, Galatia, Germania, Palestine, Idumaea,
Judaea. But tike Hipparchus, the ancient Egyptians also made
distinctions according to parts, thus; for the left shoulder, Babylonian;
for the right shoulder, Thrace; for the breast, Armenia; for the spine,
both the vale of Persia and Cappadocia, Mesopotamia, Syria, the Red
Sea' We have made a separate exposition of the individual parts because
such is often useful in prognostications for those places.

The ancient Egyptians, and Dorotheus in meter, divided the
boundaries^ as follows;

, Of boundaries, does Phaethon’ occupy the six degrees the first
In this, thereafter was allotted Cythereia'' an equal number,
Stilbon^ eight the third, and Pyroeis* five as well.

The remaining ones to equal Thouros’ Phainon* got as lot.

Ptolemy, thus: Zeus, six; Aphrodite, eight; Hermes, 7; Ares, 5; Kronos,
four. They also set out bright degrees for each zoidion. The bright
degrees of this zoidion, then, are the third, nineteenth, twenty-sixth,
twenty-seventh, thirtieth.

Furthermore, for every zoidion they distinguished three decans in
ten degree intervals. And the first decan is Chontare, the second

‘ Here of course we have a description based on the stellar constellation
rather than a tropical 30° division. This going back and forth between signs and
constellations is typical of the astrology of this period. This is what has served
to make to entire tropical-sidereal controversy so hard to settle. [RH]

^ i.e., horia or terms. [RH]

^ Name for the star of Zeus, meaning ‘the radiant one.'

■* Surname of Aphrodite.

’ Name for the star of Hermes, meaning ‘the gleaming one.’

^ Name for the star of Ares, meaning ‘the fiery one.’

’ Another epithet for the star of Ares, meaning ‘the impetuous one.’

* Name for the star of Kronos, meaning ‘the shining one.’

Chontachre, the third Siket. In general, when no other cause is
counteracting, they expected those who have the first decan marking the
hour to marry badly in their early years, and marry well in their later
years and make a good end. The signs': The breast is thin and not
fleshed out; the legs bare and lean. He will have a mark on the left side
or under the left armpit. And the critical periods of this decan were
recorded as the 4th year, 9th, 12th, 21st, 33rd, 49th, 52ncl, 64th, 74th.

And they expected those who have the second decan marking the
hour to be amply nomished along with being afflicted in some way in
the early years, but to be prudent and learned and to be tbe leader of
many and to meet with a good end. The signs: His eyes will be large
while being protruding,^ he will be a little quick to anger, his stature
adequate and his height proportionate. And the critical periods of this
decan were recorded as the 2nd year, 7th, 17th, 19th, 24th, 32nd, 39th,
41st, 52nd, 64th, 71st, 86th.

And they expected those who have the third decan marking the
hour to be afflicted and to be much abroad and to separate their parents
in death^ and to find their parental estate useless and to be distressed in
marriage, but later to take a seduced women and to beget children and
to spend the end of life cheerfully. The signs: He is brought forth
yellow and sallow; he will be bom of decent size; there will be a
blemish in bis height due to the action of the gods. The critical periods
are the 7th year, 11th, 19th, 28th, 33rd, 35th, 40th, 52nd, 67th, 74th,
88th, 97th.

And if someone should have as his Horoskopos the interval
between Ares and Taums, which is called the interstice,'' he will be
mute and obtuse and unintelligible. He will die at the same critical
periods as for the third decan of Ares.

' semeion. The most common Greek word for a sign, but not used of the
zSidia, but here for the marks and other pertinent information about a person
indicative of the decan in question.

^ keckumenos. Literally, ‘flowing forth.’ Perhaps it means ‘ranny’ or

’ We are not quite sure exactly what this means.

* mesembolema. The interval in between others, as in an intercalary month.
It is not clear that this means the cusp, since Hephaistio seems to be talking
about an interval, and not a point.

Next is the twelfth-part Taurus, which ascends as far as the neck of the
cosmos, the house of Aphrodite, exaltation of the Moon around three
degrees, solid,' vocal, commanding, feminine, terrestrial, servile.

And in general, it is indicative of both mixtures and is slightly hot
In particular, the preceding parts throughout the Pleiades are full of
wind and fog and productive of earthquakes; the middle parts are
moistening and cold; the following parts throughout the Hyades are
fiery and productive of thunder and lightning; the northern parts are
temperate, while the southern parts excite motion and are unordered.
Regions are associated with it as follows:

To the beast was subject the Median clime and Arabia
Or the fine foot of fertile Egypt as well.

Ptolemy: Parthia, Media, Persia, Cyclades, Cyprus, Lesser Asia. Again,
before that time, some posited kinships for its parts. For the horn.
Media; the right parts near Auriga, Scythia; the left, Armenia; along the
Pleiades, Cyprus.

The boundaries are thus:

Of boundaries, eight degrees got Cythereia as lot, the first
In this, after her was Stilbon's lot degrees twice three.

And Phaethon was allotted eight, and Phainon five.

After these the remaining degrees got Pyroeis as lot.

According to Ptolemy, thus: Aphrodite, eight; Hermes, 7; Zeus, 7; Ares,
6; KronoSj 2. Its bright degrees are the third, fifth, tenth, seventeenth,
twenty-eighth, thirtieth.

Its decans are three: the first is Chdou, the second Era, the third
Hrotnbromare. He who has the first marking the hour will be agreeable,
dear to many, and make life sweet, but he will toil, and after rejecting
the first marriage, he will marry a seduced woman and there will be
great happiness for him. The signs: His head will be large; his eyes
large; his size proportionate; his lips large. There will be a mark around
the throat, also around the bosom, and another around the right rib. The
critical periods of this decan are the 1st year, 4th, 8th, 11th, 22nd, 33rd,
49th, 56th, 69th, 72nd.

fixed. [RH]

And he who has the second decan marking the hour will be
wealthy, domineering, ready Of wit, and well-married, deemed worthy
of being a trustee or a guardian. The sign: The face will be wide; the
chest quite broad; the eye well-formed; the ears wide; he will be
furnished with hair around the shoulders. He will have a black mark
around the flanks or under the breast and tension around the contracted
tendons. The critical periods of this decan are the 7th year, 13th, 22nd,
31st, 43rd, 56th, 61st, 74th, 84th, 91st.

And those who have the third decan will be from great parents and
they will separate them and they will not manage their estate well, and
they will be away from home and they will experience shipwrecks, and
they will talk shamefully and emotionally, and do damage to the place
that pertains to intercourse, and they will come to have no enjoyment
in natural intercourse, and they will set aside their dignified facade, and
some of them die untimely deaths. The signs of this decan: They will
be well-formed and pleasing in the face, resembling a woman, but they
will have a blemish in the left eye or around one of their feet. They will
have delicate eyebrows, of moderate length and thin. The critical
periods of this decan are the 9th year, 12th, 23rd, 31st, 46th, 59th, 61st,
74th.

The interstice of Taurus and Gemini: He who has the Horoskopos
in this will have two namres. He will be without posterity, unseemly,
unmolded, and formless in his limbs.

The twelfth-part Gemini, which is taken for the shoulders [of the
cosmos], is the house of Hermes, bicorporeal, masculine, rational,
human in form.

And in general, it is productive of tempering; but in particular, its
preceding parts are destructive; the middle parts, temperate; the
following parts, mixed and unordered; the northern parts, full of wind
and productive of earthquakes; the southern parts, dry and scorching.

Likewise, according to Dorotheus;

Under it the clime of the Cappadocians is vocal

Or that of the Perrhaebians and the god-created Phoenicians as

well.

According to Ptolemy: Hyrcania, Armenia, Mantinea,' Cyrenaica,
Maimarica, Egypt by country. But by part, in the northern twin of
Gemini, for the foot, Boeotia; along the hands, Thrace; under the back,
Galatia; in the southern twin, under the buttocks, Pontos; for the back,
Cilicia; for the shoulder blade, Phoenicia; for the top of the head,
Indica.

The boundaries, thus:

The prior six degrees was Stilbon's lot in this.

An equal share got Phaethon, five got Paphie^ as third.

Thereafter raging Ares' seven, and Phainon six again.

According to Ptolemy: Hermes, seven; Zeus, 6; Aphrodite, 7; Ares, 6;
Kronos, 4. Its bright degrees are the 6th, 19th, 21st, 30th.

The three decans are these; the first is Thosolk, the second Ouare,
the third Phouori. He who has the first decan marking the hour will be
ready of wit and learned, fond of good cheer, erotic, with a hatred of
work, irritated by trifles, making a living in places near the sea, and he
will have a hard time settling down with a wife, and he will take a wife
out of love or friendship, and he will engage in celestial learning. The
signs of this decan: He will have crisp, curly hair, and will be tall in
stature; he will have two whorls on his head, an extra finger on his
hand. The critical periods of this decan are the 1st year, 9th, 24th, 34th,
43rd, 53rd, 65th, 73rd.

And he who has the second will be brought up with wealth; he will
separate his parents by death and will diminish their estate, and he will
be more splendid than his parents through his own acquisitions, and he
wiU be honored among priests, and he will be good at business, and he
will take a wife by reason of blood, and after the instabilities in his
early years, he will be furnished with good things. The signs of this
decan: He will be of medium stature, with a well-formed face, great of
body. There will be a mark under the armpit. The critical periods of this
decan are the 7th year, 12th, 19th, 21st, 26th, 36th, 43rd, 56th, 65th,
84th, 92nd.

And he who has the third decan, after having been afflicted during
youth, will separate his parents and diminish their estate, and he will

' Mantiane.

^ Another name

for Aphrodite.

dwell in foreign lands for the most part, and he will blaspheme owing
to loss. He will be at fault in his dealings with a woman and he takes
a wife unworthy of him or a woman with a past. The signs: He will be
thin of face and small of eye, yellow of body; he will be boastful. The
critical periods of the god are the 7th year, 12th, 21st, 32nd, 43rd, 52nd,
64th, 74th, 86th, 92nd.

And he who has the interstice of Gemini and Cancer will sustain
injury around his organs of vision or will have white spots' in them, but
if Zeus sees this place the damage will be of one eye.

The twelfth-part Cancer, which is taken for the breast and ribs [of the
cosmos], is the house of the Moon, exaltation of Zeus around fifteen
degrees, summer, tropical, mute, amphibious, fruitful, humped, very
wet, femiiiine, nocturnal,^ commanding, Horoskopos of the cosmos.

And in general, it is calm and hot. But in particular, the preceding
parts of it throughout the Manger are full of stifling heat and productive
of earthquakes and full of mist; the middle parts are temperate; the
following parts are full of wind; the northern and southern parts are
torrid and scorching. The so-called Manger in it makes white spots in

To it are subject the clime of the Thracians and Ethiopians.

According to Ptolemy: Noumidia, Carthage, Africa, Bithnyia, Phrygia,
Colchica. But by parts, as Odapsos’ says; the foreparts, Bactriana; the
left side, Akamania and Hellespontus and the Western Sea and Bretania
and the island of Thoule; for the foot, Armenia and Cappadocia,
Rhodes, Cos and the islands of Illium; for the middle, Asia; on the
right, Lydia, Hellespontus.

The boundaries, thus:

Of boundaries, the prior seven degrees Thouros got as lot

In this, thereafter Cythereia six degrees did get.

An equal number Hermes, Zeus the radiant got seven after him.

' leukoma. Not cataracts, but white spots caused by the hardening of

^ See page 3, note 2.

^ We don't know who this fellow is.

9

Twice two the last did crooked Kronos get as lot.

According to Ptolemy: Ares, 6; Zeus, 7; Hermes, 7; Aphrodite, 7;
Kronos, 3. Its bright degrees are the 8th, 9th, 15th, 20th, 22nd, 26th.

The three decans of this zoidion: the first is Sothis, the second Sit,
the third Chnoumis. He who is bom, then, upon the first decan will be
good, quiet, trusted for what he says, full of care, dear to many, one
who acquires much out of his inventiveness and who prevails over
enemies; but he will be at fault in his dealings with a woman, and after
marrying, he will bury his youthful spirit, and later he will be
affectionately treated and at the end he will have a fine end. The signs:
He will be tall in size, the hair youthful and curled up, the eyes
pleasing, the eyebrows likewise, the nose high-raised, the shoulders
broad, the tendons of the feet stand out. There will be a mark under the
armpit or under a breast, and another mark upon the right elbow. The
critical periods of this decan will be the 9th year, 11th, 21st, 33rd, 49th,
56th, 63rd, 71st, 86th.

He who is brought forth upon the second decan will be raised with
wealth and will be better than his parents and will see the death of his
brothers, and he wilt be in the public service and will be held in esteem
by the multitude and will be entrusted with laws. He will be inconstant
with a wife and he will be aggrieved with his children. The signs of this
decan: He will be small of size, swarthy, the chin bare, the chest small.
A black mark will be found upon the navel. [He is] one who makes
men glad with his words, but not entirely with his deeds. The critical
periods are the 4th year, 7th, 12th, 23rd, 42nd, 54th, 62nd, 73rd, 88th.

He who is brought forth upon the third decan will be prudent and
will be raised in a family of no account, and he will separate his parents
by death and will diminish his patrimony, and he will be foiid of his
friends, and he will be afflicted in his youth, at fault in his dealings
with a women; he will make his living in military exercise, and he will
be experienced with iron, and he will meet with a good end. The signs
of this decan: He will be of middling stature, well-fed, oily, yellow,
white, the eyebrows large, the chest broad, pot-bellied; he will have
trouble with his viscera. The critical periods are the 4th year, 7th, 12th,
24th, 33rd, 49th, 52nd, 63rd, 69th, 72nd, 86th. And let it not be
overlooked that they appropriately accept Chnoumis as a safe-guard of
the stomach, since it is lord of the breast of the cosmos, according to
what [parts] the division of the zoidia contains.

10

The interstice of Cancer and Leo makes those who are mad if none
of the benefics bears witness, and such are cast out by their parents and
kin and they live with the quadrupeds, but when the good planets are
looking on, they cause injury and suffering.

The twelfth-part Leo, which is considered as the heart and the places
around it, is the house of the Sun, diurnal,' four-footed, barren, kingly,
masculine, terrestrial, licentious, semi-vocal.

And in general, it is scorching and stifling. But in particular, its
preceding parts are stifling and pestilential for quadrupeds; the middle
is temperate; the following parts are humid and cause destruction; the
northern parts are productive of movement and fiery; the southern parts

To it are subject Hellas, Phrygia, and the mouth of Pontus.

According to Ptolemy: Italy, Gaul, Apulia, Phoenicia, Chaldaea,
Orchenia. But by parts, according to the inquiries of others: for the
head, Propontis; for the breast, Hellas; under the belly, Macedonia; the
parts near the tail, Phrygia.

The boundaries, thus:

The prior six degrees does Phaethon occupy in this.

Five has Paphie, and Phainon seven after her.

Six has Hermes, six last did Ares get as lot.

According to Ptolemy: Zeus, six; Aphrodite, six; Hermes, seven;
Kronos, six; Ares, five. The bright degrees of this zoidion are the 1st,
4th, 5th, 16th, 20th, 30th.

Its decans are three: the first is Charchnoumis, the second Epe, the
third Phoupe. He who is brought forth, then, upon the first decan wiU
be guarded by crowds, and will be listened to, and he will be acute and
not to be despised, one who does well by those subject to him, and he
will investigate and acquire much, though he will be open to censure on
account of a woman. The signs of this decan: He will be tall in stature,
the face youthful, red, the eyes large, keen-scented, the legs thin; he
will have trouble with his feet and flatulence. The critical periods of this

god will be the 1st year, 11th, 23rd, 32nd, 46th, 57th, 69th, 72nd, 74th,
88th.

And he who is brought forth upon the second decan will be a
master, a king; he will be declared a plenipotentiaiy, and he will subject
many and found cities, and many will pay tribute to him,* and there will
be knowledge of god in him, and the discovery of gold, and his mind
will be inspired by him, and his honor equal to the gods. The signs: He
will be quite large, broad-chested; he will be withered from his thighs
to his feet, his skin lion-colored, a sweet conversationalist; he will have
trouble with his tendons. The critical periods of this god are the 9th
year, 21st, 34th, 46th, 52nd, 70th. Death will be sudden.

And he who is brought forth upon the third decan will be raised
with wealth, and he will be prudent, learned, dear to many; he will have
bodily injuries and birthmarks and kingly struggles and powerful plots
against him; later he will overcome them, and he will have authority
over property and will be good at business on behalf of gods, and he
will be well-favored by women, but he will be injured in his
extremities. The signs of this decan; He will be of middling stature, the
face red, the eyes protruding;^ he will be unbridled around women. The
critical periods are the 7th year, 13th, 23rd, 43rd, 52nd, 66th, 74th,
88th. He will come to his end on his own [day]^ and will be honored
at burial.

Those who are brought forth upon the interstice will be silent'* and
he will be near to the gods, and some wilt die unmarried.

The twelfth-part Virgo, which is itself taken for the belly, will be the
house and exaltation of Hermes around the fifteenth degree, diurnal,^
rational, vocal, human in form, barren, bicorporeal, feminine, obedient,

’ phorologesousin autdi. The lexicon says that in the active (as here) this
verb means ‘to levy tribute from,’ which does not seem to make sense in this
context with ‘many’ as the subject. It seems to me that the roots of the verb
could just as well mean ‘to bring tribute to,’ and this is how I have translated

’ See note under second decan of Aries.

’ epi tes idias. A feminine noun is implied here, such as hemera, meaning
‘day.’ This may perhaps mean his birthday.

■* From Harpocrates, the Egyptian god of silence.

^ See page 3, note 2.

winged.

And in general, it is watery and full of thunder. But in particular,
its preceding parts are hotter and destructive; the following parts are
soaked; the northern parts, windy; the southern parts, temperate.

Under it entire the virgin islands Rhodes and Cyclades,

And the Ogygian trees, which men of Arcady consumed.

And great stream Oceanus deeply eddying.

It has as well the Achaian clime of Laconian land and Laconians.

According to Ptolemy: Babylonia, middle Ethiopia, Mesopotamia,
Assyria, Hellas, Achaia, Crete. But by parts; for the back, Ionia; for the
middle of the left side, Rhodes, Peloponnesus; for the train of the robe
on the left side, Arcadia, Cyrene; for the right hand, Doris; for the left,
Sicily; for Spica, Persia.

The order of the boundaries, thus:

The seven first degrees was Stilbon's lot upon it.

And ten has Kupris,' Phaethdn four against her.

Seven Ares, the two the last did Phainon get as lot.

According to Ptolemy, thus: Hermes, seven; Aphrodite, six; Zeus, 5;
Kronos, 6; Ares, 5. The bright degrees of this zoidion are the 10th, 17th,
20th, 26th, 29th.

The three decans of this zoidion: the first is Tom, the second
Ouestebkot, the third Aphoso. He who is brought forth upon the first
decan, then, will be good, fond of laughter, dear to many; he will go
through his life in luxury, wifeless because of not remaining with one
woman, and his personal daimon and luck will be his protector, and
though he Will be unhealthy, he will also find medical relief; and after
his youth he will be well-favored by women and he will meet with a
fine end. The signs of this decan: His height will be lofty, his soul
courageous, the face well-formed, the eyes lovely, the nose snub and a
little thick. He will have a mark on his bosom. The critical periods of
this god are the 7th year, 12th, 23rd, 41st, 57th, 63rd, 7nd, 86th.

And he who is brought forth upon the second decan will be

' Another i

for Aphrodite, from

1 of Cyprus.

pradent, ready of wit, learned, acute, graceful, a private property owner,
disdainful of patrimonies. And if Aphrodite should be sympathetic to
this decan, he is shown kindness with music and harmony, and he is
loved. The signs of this decan: He will he of becoming size, the face
fine, reverent toward the gods, and he will have a great name; he will
rule over many, he will he prudent and have good handwriting and a
euphonious voice, and he will have a fine end. The critical periods of
this god are the 4th, 9th, 16th, 22nd, 35th, 43rd, 57th, 63td, 75th, 82nd,
96th.

And he who is brought forth upon the third decan will be wealthy
and learned, temperate, just, one who minds his own business, pious,
generous, and successful, but he will suffer through children and wife,
though he will meet with a fine end. The signs of this decan: He will
he of middle stature, small of head, keen-scented; he will not be lacking
for bread until hisjjeath; he will be short-lived and he will die by iron.
The critical periods of this god are the 9th, 18th, 24th, 35th, 42nd, 66th,
74th, 86th.

And he who is brought forth upou the interstice will be castrated
or one who consorts with men; and if she should be a woman, she will
be a rubber and one who consorts with women and performs the actions
of men.

The twelfth-part Libra, which is taken for the hips, is the house of
Aphrodite, exaltation of Kronos around the,20th.degree, equipartite,
autumnal, human in form, vocal, perforated,* masculine, cut off in the
limbs, obedient.

And in general, it is productive of turns and changes in the weather.
But in particular, its preceding and middle parts are temperate; the
following parts, soaked; the northern parts, windy; the southern parts,
humid and pestilential.

. .As well the clime of Cytene is underneath the claws,

The Italian region too comes 'neath the scale itself.

As others would have it; Bactriana, Casperia, Serica, Thebais, Oasis,
Troglodytia. But by part, according to the inquiry of Odapsis and others,
Libra, which is the Claws of Scorpio is: for the forehead, Rome and the

suriggodes. Literally, ‘like a pipe.’

surrounding regions; the middle, Arabia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Carthage; the
hindparts, Libya, Cyrene and the contiguous places; the right side,
Sparta and Libya, the boundary of Smyrna; for the head. Tyre, the
fruited island of Thrace lying against Arabia; for the breast, Cilicia; for
the belly, Sinope.

The boundaries, thus:

Of boundaries in this was six degrees allotted Phainon,

Eight the great and gleaming star of Hermes,

Seven radiant Zeus, and Paphie got likewise seven.

The two remaining got the star of Ares as his lot.

According to Ptolemy: Kronos, 6; Aphrodite, 5; Hermes, 5; Zeus, 8;
Ares, 6. The bright degrees of this zoidion are the 12th, 17th, 23rd,
30th.

The decans are three: the first is Souchoe, the second Ptechout, the
third Chontare. He who is brought forth upon the first decan will be
premamre,' and he will separate his parents and will be tried by losses
and griefs, and he will leave behind his patrimony and will be among
men of other races, and after having undergone many troubles, he will
return to his patrimony and will be improved and he will see the growth
of children. The signs of this decan: He will have the name of a despot;
there will be a blow and a wound in the head; he will be burnt around
his hands and feet in a fire; having been thrown down a precipice, he
will not die. The critical periods of this god are the 9th year, 16th,
22nd, 36th, 49th, 59th, 66th, 77th.

And he who is brought forth upon the second decan will be
brilliant, wealthy, domineering, and one who leaves his home for
expectations and kingly gifts and honors, but such a one will fall in
with a good companion and will have the birth of children, and make
discoveries and behold the growth of children. The signs of this decan:
He will be of average size, the face dark, the hair thin; there will be a
black mark upon his breast and another upon his loins, and he will be
oppressed by [this decan]. The critical periods of this god are the 9th
year. 12th, 14th, 36th, 41st, 58th, 63rd, 74th, 88th.

And he who is brought forth upon the third decan will be

' progonos. This can also mean ‘first-bom,’ and may have this meaning

here.

unwearying, well-shaped, generous, dear to many, and in public
occupations. He will be knowledgeable in many areas, good at business
on behalf of gods, but he will have a hard time settling down with a
wife, and will take one married before and will have offspring; a few
will also wear crowns and rule over cities. The signs of this decan: He
will be yellow of face; his eyebrows will be around his eyes; he will
raise up an adopted son; he will have trouble with his tendons. The
critical periods of the god are the 1st year, 9th, 11th, 23rd, 36th, 42nd,
59th, 68th, 79th.

And he who is brought forth upon the interstice will have
ulcerations or putrefactions or discharges and perforations, or even
dropsy and freckling and throat tumois and indurations or varicose

The twelfth-part Scorpio, which is taken for the genitals, is the house
of Ares. This point prevents issue and naturally makes the eyes disabled
or cataracts and white spots on the cornea because of the star clusters
which are nearby in the Milky Way, and it is solid, feminine, terrestrial,
diurnal,' contractive,^ mute, cut off in the limbs, obedient, scaly,
humped, perforated.

And in general, it is full of thunder and fiery. But in particular, its
preceding parts are snowy; the middle parts, temperate; the following
parts, full of earthquakes; the northern parts, scorching; the southern
parts, humid.

. . .Under it came all

Carthage, built by the hand of Tyre,^

Libya under Ammon's eye and Sicily his land.

According to Ptolemy: Metagonitis, Mauritania, Gaemlia, Syria,
Comangene, Cappadocia. By part is subject: in the foreparts, Italy;
under the middle, Iberia and the contiguous places; for the forehead,
Rome and Bastemia.

The boundaries, thus:

' See page 3, note 2.

^ spastikos.

^ Turies Didous Cheri. ?

16

Of boundary degrees was Pyroeis allotted seven of this,

Again Paphie four, thereafter Stilbdn eight.

Five took Zdus the radiant, six last did Phainon get.

According to Ptolemy; Ares, six; Aphrodite, 7; Zeus, 8; Hermes, 6;
Kronos, 3. The bright degrees are the 7th, 10th, 14th, 20th, 30th.

The decans are three: the first is Stochnene, the second Sesme, the
third Sisieme. He who is brought forth upon the first decan will be
ready of wit, learned;, just, and he will divide his parents and he will
be [involved with] fines' and he will alternate places, and he will be
heeded and he will rule over regions and property and he will give
freely of many things. But if the star of Aphrodite should regard, he
will be an artisan of gold and silver or money, and he will be
well-favored by women. The signs of it: He will be lovely in size; he
will have a wound in the head; the eyes large, the chest and the
shoulders wide; there will be a mark on the left foot and another on the
right hand. The critical periods of the god are the 9th, 12th, 22nd, 33rd,
42nd, 56th, 63rd, 69th, 76th, 85th, 93rd.

And he who is brought forth upon the second decan will be large,
wealthy, domineering, learned, sweet of speech, temperate, acquiring
many thing by his own efforts, knowledgeable in many things, and he
will be made a slave by free men; he partakes of many arts and music
and the wrestling school; sometimes he becomes a ship's captain, other
times indeed a military commander. And if the decan should be
contemplated by Ares, it causes cuts and bums and constrictions around
the extremities. The signs of this decan: He will be of medium size, a
large head, well-formed in the eyes, graceful of limb; there will be a
mark around the bosom and the loins. The critical periods are the 7th
year, 11th, 22nd, 33rd, 42nd, 57th;, 61st, 73 k 1, 84th, 89th.

And he who is brought forth upon the third decan will be involved
in losses and irregularities and stays abroad and making his fortune,^
and he will be psychologically and bodily unwell, and will experience
the plottings of enemies; he will be inconstant in the matter of a wife
(for he will consort either with slaves or married women or those who
have injuries), and he will be in grief over children; after the first period
of his life he will acquire many things and will rule over other areas

^ tuches metedrismoi. Literally, ‘the uplifting of fortune.’

17

and will meet with a fine end. And if Aphrodite should look on, he will
be fascinating and will have fame and talent for music and dancing and
gold and silver. The signs of this decan: He will be of small size, black,
greedy; he will have a blemish on his body; he will be plotted against
and will die of a drug or poison. The critical periods are the 3rd year,
9th, 14th, 18th, 22nd, 31st, 43rd, 55th, 65th, 74th, 83rd, 87th.

The interstice makes for expulsion by the parents. And if the star
of Zeus should look on, it will bring about a return to the parents or to
others who adopt them.

The twelfth-part Sagittarius, as far as which the thighs ascend, is the
house of Zeus, bicorporeal, male, terrestrial, four-footed, barren, kingly,
winged, diurnal' and in part human in form, cut off at the hmbs and in
half, vocal, perforated.

And in general, it is windy. But in particular, its preceding parts are
watery; the middle, temperate; the following parts, fiery; the northern
parts, windy; the southern parts, very wet and changeable.

And under it was spread the clime of the Gauls, deeply rich.

And Crete, the nurse of Zeus the son of Kronos, where too

Arose the wedding of ravished Europa and mighty Musa?^

According to Ptolemy; Tyrrhenia, Celtica, Spain, Arabia Felix.
According to Hipparchus: for the lower back, Crete, Sicily; for the ribs,
Italia; for the middle and belly, Iberia. And according to.lhe inquiries
of Odapsos and others, the foreparts: Crete and the contiguous regions;
the left side, Sicily; the right side, Cyprus and the Red Sea; for the rear
feet, the Ouziomas,^ Tyrrenes; for the lower back, the Caspians and the
nations around the Euphrates; for the tail, Mesopotamia and Carthage
and the Western Sea; for the head, Italy and the hollow of Adria and
those who dwell around it; for the breast, Syria; for the quiver, the
Atlantic Sea; for the belly, the Triballi, Bactriana, Sicily; for the
forefeet, Egypt and the contiguous regions.

The boundaries, thus:

' See page 3, note 2.
^ Musa?

' Vasio?

Ten first degrees of this did Phaethon get as lot,

Then five got Paphie, thereafter Stilhon three,

Hermes' lot was four, and Phainon's five as well.

Twice two degrees remaining Ares got as lot.

According to Ptolemy: Zeus, 8; Aphrodite, 5; Hermes, 5; Kronos, 6;
Ares, 6. The bright degrees are the 4th, 6th, 10th, 18th, 26th, 29th.

The three decans of this zoidion: the first is Hreouo, the second
Sesme, the third Komme. He who is brought forth upon the first decan
will be a defective and a waste, and he will be confronted with jealousy
(since Sagittarius is a discarder and a recipient); and he will have
knowledge of god and will he good at business and will see the deaths
of his relatives and he who is in danger will be preserved by the gods.
And those brought forth will have an extra limb, and they will support
many out of goodness, and they will be close to the great. They will
also breed horses or be guardians and generals and market-clerks and
archpriests, and they will be well-favored by women. The signs: he will
be very beautiful in stature, the eyes lovely, the nose large, with fine
eyebrows; he will have a mark on the rib. The critical periods of the
god are the 11th year, 22nd, 31st, 46th, 53rd, 63rd, 77th, 86th.

And he who is brought forth upon the second decan will separate
his parents and will be in affliction tuid poverty and he will live abroad
and run into those he does not expect, and he will have an uplifting of
soul. He will be well-favored by a companion and will experience a cut
and bloodshed. And if one of the benefics should bear witness to the
evil matters, it will undo it, and as he advances in years he will be
better. He will practice the arts of silver and gold or of money. The
signs of this decan; He will be sallow of face, the eyebrows wide, a
mark will be found on his chest, his back will be lean. The critical
periods of the god will be the 11th year, 19th, 21st, 32nd, 46th, 51st,
61st, 72nd, 86th, 91st.

And he who is brought forth upon the third decan will be raised
wealthy and will be from great parents, acute, learned; and he will be
in the public service and will be a lord of life and death and close to
kings. And he will be an executor of royal commands and campaigns.
And if the decan should be witnessed by Zeus, it will make leaders,
instructors of kings, those who make cities subject. But if the decan
should be wimessed by Kronos or a degree of Kronos should be rising,
it will cause a defection of the multimde and a loss of money and

19

instabilities and enmities and the plottings of slaves. The signs of the
decan: small in height, the face lovely, the left eye suffers from cataract,
the chest .quite wide, courageous of soul; he will have a mark on the left
leg. The critical periods of the god are the 11th year, 26th, 36th, 42nd.
51st, 67th, 72nd. Death will be sudden.

And the interstice makes him blameworthy in his early years. But
if it should be female, the disposition will be in companionship and
community and she who sleeps with a great man will be loved, and she
will be with him when she is divorced from a former husband, and she
will meet with a fine end.

The twelfth-part Capricorn, which is taken for the knees, is the house
of Kronos, exaltation of Ares around the 28th degree, tropical,
pertaining to the winter, feminine, diurnal,' barren, obedient, amphibi¬
ous, double-natured, semi-vocal.

And in general, it is very wet. But in particular, its preceding parts
are scorching and destructive; the middle parts, temperate; the following
parts, productive of the movement of storms; the northern and southern
parts, very wet and destructive.

To it was subject the all-desolate Cinunerian land.

According to Ptolemy; India, Ariana, Gedrosia, Thrace, Macedonia,
Dlyria. But according to the inquiries of others, the parts to the west and
south are subject to it; for the ribs, the Aegean Sea and those dwelling
around it, and Corynth; for the waist and the back, the Great Sea; for
the tail, Iberia; for the head, Cyllenia, Tyrrenia; for the breast, the
Tyrrenian Sea; for the belly, middle Egypt, Syria, Caria.

The boundaries, thus:

Again the seven first degrees Stilbon got as lot.

And Phaethon seven, Cythereia twice four,

' Phainon has twice two, the last has Ares equal to it.

According to Ptolemy, thus: Aphrodite, 6; Hermes, 6; Zeus, 7; Kronos,
six; Ares, 5. The bright degrees of the zoidion are the 6th, 12th, 15th,
24th, 30th.

20

The three decans of it: the first is Smat, the second Sro, the third
Isro. He who is brought forth upon the first will be the first child or the
first reared, prudent, deep, learned, good, one who speaks out freely and
subjugates his enemies; when he is in danger he will be preserved by
his own devices, and he will sustain many losses in his early years; and
he will be inconstant with a woman. But if Zeus should testify to this
decan, he will have good times and make discoveries, and he will rule
over many, and he will meet with a fine end. The signs of this decan:
short in height, the chest broad; when walking around his tendons
move; he will have a black mark on the armpit. The critical years of the
god are the 1st, 4th, 9th, 11th, 17th, 22nd, 31st, 42nd, 56th, 63rd, 72nd,
81st, 89th.

And he who is brought forth upon the second decan will separate
his parents by death and will diminish their estate and he will sustain
losses and will live abroad; and being subtle in his manners, he will be
raised with great men; and he will make a living by means of water.
And he will not settle down with a woman, or else he will be late in
marrying and will be an object of slander over married women, widows,
and slaves; but after his early years, he wiU be benefited by a woman
and will meet with a fine end. The signs of this decan: of due height
and large, with comely eyes, the nose high, the eyes full of delight, but
ill-disposed and hot and base. The critical years are the 6th, 9th, 11th,
22nd, 31st, 41st, 52nd, 63rd, 76th, 81st.

And he who is brought forth upon the third decan will be of great
and noble parents, and will be raised with wealth and trusted with
much; and he will be learned and dear to many, acute, with a hatred of
knaves, licentious, easily changeable; and he will be inconstant with a
woman, but later he will be well-favored by her, and he will acquire
much and rule over many. The signs of this decan: He will be sallow;
he will have a mark on the left elbow and on the thighs, and he will
live a short life with intensity. The critical periods of the god are the
4th year, 7th, 11th, 22nd, 33rd, 46th, 52nd, 63rd, 72nd. Death will be
in a foreign land.

And the interstice makes those who are expelled or devoured by
beast.

The twelfth-part Aquarius, which is taken for the legs, is the house of

21

Kronos, masculine, solid, vocal, rational, nocturnal,* human in form.

And in general, it is frigid and watery. But in particular, its
preceding parts are very wet; the middle, temperate; the following parts,
windy; the northern parts, scorching; the southern, snowy.

Subject to it:

. . .the clime of Egypt

And the Middle of the Rivers.^

[According to Ptolemy:] Sauromatica, Oxiana, Sogdiana, Arabia,
Azania, Germanica. By part, there is subject to it: for the left hand and
the breast, Syria; under the right hand, Euphrates and Tigris; for the
pitcher, Tanais and those rivers [flowing] to the south and west.

Hermes got the seven first as lot, then after him

Got Cypris six degrees, thereafter Phaethon did seven get,

And raging Ares five, the last five Kronos got.

According to Ptolemy: Kronos, 6; Hermes, 6; Aphrodite, 8; Zeus, five;
Ares, 5. The bright degrees of this zoidion are the 11th, 17th, 20th,
25th, 29th.

Its three decans: the first Ptiau, the second Aue, the third Ptebuou.
He who is brought forth upon the first decan will be great, wealthy,
learned, dear to many, one who speaks out freely, with a hatred of
knaves, a righteous judge, and many will flee to him for refuge because
of his justness; and he will be deemed worthy of images and statues,
and he will be well-favored by women; but he will see the deaths of his
children. The signs of this decan: His face will be shaved, a mark will
be found on his chest or on his left foot and on his rib; the toes of his
feet will curl up. The critical periods of the god are the 7th year, 11th,
19th, 22nd, 31st, 57th, 62nd, 76th, 81st, 92nd.

And he who is brought forth upon the second decan will be
afflicted in his body and in his whole daily life; he will have complaints
and drug preparations and slanders, and he will be in danger because of
his head, and he will suffer loss and conflagrations and shipwrecks, and
he will be inconstant in his dealings with his wife. He will have these

^ Mesopotamia.

22

in his early years; but later he will have relief, acquiring many things.
The signs of this decan: not quite of good size, his color dark; he will
be a blessing in the house wherein he was brought forth; there will be
a mark on the loins and under the armpit and on the breast, and the toes
of his feet will be separated. The critical periods of the god are the 12th
year, 26th, 33rd, 44th, 56th, 65th, 73rd, 84th, 95th.

And he who is brought forth upon the third decan will be begotten
by the gods, and he will be great and observe the religious rituals of the
gods, and he will be a lord of the world and many will obey him. These
things will obtain if benefics should bear wimess to this place without
the presence of evil ones. The signs of this decan will be; not quite tall
in height, the eyes tawny-orange and sallow; he will have a mark upon
the right shoulder and under the armpit. The critical periods are the 2nd
year, 6th, 9th, 12th, 21st, 42nd, 51st, 64th, 74th, 80th,

And he who is brought forth upon the interstice will be a portent,
abortion—for example, a little satyr or hermaphrodite, albino, twin or
two-headed.

The twelfth-part Pisces, which is taken for the feet and base, is the
house of Zeus, exaltation of Aphrodite around 20 degrees, bicorporeal,
feminine, fertile, nocturnal,' swimming, perforated, scaly, cut off,
winged, mute.

In general, it is cold and windy. But in particular, its preceding
parts are temperate; the middle, very wet; the following parts,
scorching; the northern parts, windy; the southern, watery.

There is subject to it:

. . .the Red Sea

Up to the flood of Oceanus.

[According to Ptolemy:] Phazania, Nasamonitis, Lydia, Cilicia,
Pamphylia. By part: for the southern fish, Mesopotamia; and for the
back, the . . .^ of Andromeda; for the northern fish, ... For the
foreparts, according to Odapsos, Euphratesia and Tigris; and the middle,
Syria and the Red Sea, India, middle Persia; and under the back, the
Arabian Sea and Borysthenes; for the knot of the northern fish, Thrace;

23

of the southern fish, Asia and Sardo.

The boundaries, thus:

The whole first twelve degrees got Kupris,

Phaethdn twice two, Stilbdn three, Thouros nine,

The two degrees remaining Phainon got as lot.

According to Ptolemy: Aphrodite, 8; Zeus, six; Hermes, 6; Ares, 5;
Kronos, 5. The bright degrees of this zoidion are the 8th, 15th, 20th,
23th, 25th, 30th.

Its three decans: the first is Biou, the second Chontare, the third
Ptibiou. He who is brought forth upon the first decan will be great and
will have throngs under him; he will be steady, beneficent towards those
subject to him, but he will be in grief over children. He will be pious
and good at business, and he will be in danger with his neck and escape
from harm. And women will withdraw from some of them; but when
traversing the irregularities of the decan, he will have a good period of
time and will be well-favored by a woman and will beget children. The
signs of this decan: in stature of good height, the face well-formed, the
shoulders broad; and when he is walking, noises are heard from his
tendons. He will have a mark under the armpit and the under the feet.
The critical periods of the god are the 12th year, 22nd, 25th, 27th, 33rd,
42nd, 52nd, 64th, 73rd, 82nd.

And he who is brought forth upon the second decan will be raised
with wealth, and he will separate his parents and diminish their estate,
and he' will acquire much by himself; for, he will be one who is rather
good at conamerce and acquisitive and philanthropic and learned, one
who knows the heavens and is at peace; and he will trust and be trusted
and will be robbed by his friends, and he will marry a woman whom he
also throws out after she has intrigued against him; and he will have
many enemies whom he will also watch over. But if a good star should
look upon, he will marry a fine woman, and he wiU be tranquil and
meet with a good end. The signs of the decan: not quite lofty in size,
comely, the hair black and thin; he will have a mark on his right foot
and on his navel. The critical periods of the god are the 4th year, 7th,
10th, 16th, 20th, 31st, 42nd, 51st, 61st, 72nd, 77th, 79th.

And he who is brought forth upon the third decan will be graced
and learned, dear to many, a voluptuary; but he will have a bodily
injury and will see the death of his relatives and wife. And he will

24

make a living in the rivers and sea, but he will diminish the estate of
his parents. He will be contentious toward those who hold sway, but he
will marry a woman who is superior. And if a benefic should look on,
he will acquire much and waste it on luxury. The signs of this decan:
he will be sallow and with cat-like eyes. The critical periods of the god
are the 2nd year, 6th, 9th, 12th, 21st, 31st, 42nd, 51st, 67th, 74th, 80th.
Death will be sudden.

And he who is brought forth upon the interstice will be a suicide,
or else he will die from a drinkable drug, or else he will be strangled,
or thrown off a precipice, or he will be devoured by beasts, or he will
be decapitated and not honored with a burial. The critical periods of this
interstice are the ones preceding it.

2. Concerning the Power of the Seven Wandering Stars’

It would be in order to receive in addition [teachings] concerning the
power of the 7 wandering stars; for, the power of the fixed stars refers
back to this. The Sun, then, is taken as heating and drying at the same
time. The Moon moistens and, as it were, ripens bodies, along with
slightly heating. Kronos chills and slightly dries. Ares chiefly dries and
bums. Zeus has a productive power that is temperate, heating and
moistening at the same time. And the star of Aphrodite is temperately
productive of the same things. The star of Hermes is sometimes diying.

Of these planets, Zeus, Aphrodite, the Moon, are benefic, while
Kronos, Ares are malefic, and the Sun and Hermes neutral.

And the Sun, Kronos, Zeus, Ares are masculine, while the Moon,
Aphrodite are feminine, and the star of Hermes is conmlon. Further¬
more, they become masculine and feminine because of their figurations
with the Sun. That is, in the figurations from rising up to culminating,
or from setting up to culminating under the earth, it signifies becoming
masculine since they are in eastern figurations. But in the remaining two
quadrants, it signifies becoming feminine, since they are in western

And they say that the Sun, Kronos, Zeus, are diurnal, while the
Moon, Aphrodite, Ares are nocturnal, and the star of Hermes is

' In this chapter summarizes several chapters of Book 1., Tetrabiblos.

common.

3. Concerning the Power of the Fixed Stars

The power and nature of the fixed stars is also Uiken according to the
similarity to the planets of the powers and natures suggested by color,
as the ancients and the divine Ptolemy have laid out.

The stars in the head of Aries, then, have a productive effect which
is a mixture of the power of Ares and the power of Kronos; those in the
mouth, of the power of Hermes and slightly like that of Kronos; those
in the hind foot, of the power of Ares; and those in the tail, of
Aphrodite.

Of the stars in Taurus, those in the head' have a mixture like that
of Aphrodite and slightly like that of Kronos; those in the Pleiades, like
that of the Moon and of Ares; of those in the head, the bright and
somewhat reddish star of the Hyades has a mixture like that of Ares.

Of the stars in Gemini, those upon the feet have a mixture like that
of Hermes and somewhat like that of Aphrodite; the bright stars in the
thighs, like that of Kronos; of the two bright stars in the heads, the one
in the preceding head (also called the star of Apollo) is like the mixture
of Hermes, while the one in the following head (also called the star of
Heracles) is like the mixture of Ares.

Of the stars in Cancer, the two upon the feet produee the same
action as that of Hermes and somewhat the same as that of Ares; the
stars in the claws, as the action of Kronos and that of Hermes; the
cloud-like cluster in the breast (called the Manger), as that of Ares and
the Moon; and the two on either side of it (called the Asses), as the
action of Ares and that of the Sun.

Of the stars in Leo, the two upon the head cause a similar [effect]
as the star of Kronos and slightly as the star of Ares; the three stars in
the throat, as the star of Kronos does and slightly as the star of Hermes;
the bright star upon the heart (called Regulus), as the star of Ares and
the star of Zeus; the stars in the hip and the bright star upon the tail, as
the star of Kronos and the star of Aphrodite; and the stars in the thighs,
as the star of Aphrodite and slightly as the star of Hermes.

Of the stars for 'Virgo, those in the head and the one upon the tip
of the southern wing are like the star of Hermes and slightly like the
star of Ares; the remaining bright stars of the wing and those along the
girdles, like the star of Hermes and slightly like the star of Aphrodite;

26

the bright star in the northern wing (called Vindemiatrix), like the star
of Kronos and the star of Hermes; the so-called Spica, like the star of
Aphrodite and slightly like the star of Ares; and the stars in the tips of
the feet and the train of the robe, like the star of Hermes and slightly
like the star of Ares.

Of the Claws of Scorpio, the stars at their tips dispose in the same
manner as the star of Zeus and as star of Hermes, while the stars in the
middle dispose in the same manner as the star of Kronos and as the star

Of the stars in the body of Scorpio, the bright stars in the forehead
are like the star of Ares and somewhat like the star of Kronos; the three
stars in the body, the middle one of which is reddish-brown and fairly
bright (and is called Antares), is Uke the star of Ares and somewhat like
the star of Zeus; the stars upon the joints, like the star of Kronos and
somewhat like the star of Aphrodite; the stars upon the sting, like the
star of Hermes and like the star of Ares; and the so-called cloud-like
cluster, like the star of Ares and of the Moon.

Of the stars around in Sagittarius, those upon the point of the arrow
are like the star of Ares and the Moon; those in the bow and the
hand-grip, like the star of Zeus and the star of Ares; the cluster in the
face, like the Sun and the star of Ares; those in the shoulder-blades or
cloak and back, like the star of Zeus and slightly like the star of
Hermes; and the quadrangle upon the tail, like the star of Aphrodite and
slightly like the star of Kronos.

Of the stars in Capricorn, those upon the horns have the same
power as the star of Aphrodite and much the same as the star of Ares;
the stars in the mouth, as the star of Kronos, and slightly like the star
of Aphrodite; those in the feet and in the belly, as Ares and Hermes;
and the stars upon the tail, as Kronos and Zeus.

Of the stars in Aquarius, those in the shoulders and in the left hand
and in the cloak as Kronos and Hermes; the stars upon the thighs, as
Hermes and slightly Kronos; and the stars in the flow of water, as
Kronos and somewhat as Zeus.

Of the stars in Pisces, those in the head of the southern fish are
similar to the star of Hermes and somewhat to the star of Kronos; the
stars in the mouth, to the star of Zeus and the star of Hermes; the stars
upon the tail and upon the southern cord, to the star of Kronos and
somewhat to the star of Hermes; the stars in the body and in the spine
of the northern fish, to the star of Zeus does and somewhat to the star
of Aphrodite; the stars in the northern cord, to the star of Kronos and

27

somewhat to the star of Zeus; and the bright star upon the knot, to the
star of Ares and somewhat to the star of Hermes.

4. Concerning the Formations Farther North than the Zodiac

Of the formations for the northern pole, the bright stars in Ursa Minor
are similar to the star of Kronos and somewhat to the star of Aphrodite.
The stats in Ursa Major, to the star of Ares.

The cluster of Coma Berenices beneath the tail of the Bear, to the
Moon and the star of Aphrodite.

The bright stars in Draco, to the star of Kronos and the star of

The stars in Cepheus, to the star of Kronos and the star of Zeus.
The stars in Bootes resemble Hermes and Kronos; but the bright
and reddish-brown star called Arcturus, Ares and Zeus.

The stars in Corona Septentrionalis, are similar to Aphrodite and
Hermes.

The stars for the Geniculator, to Hermes.

The stars in Lyra and in Cygnus, to Aphrodite and Hermes.

The stars for Cassiopeia, to Kronos and Aphrodite.

The stars for Perseus, to Zeus and Kronos; but the cluster in the hilt
of the sword, to Ares.

The bright stars in Auriga, to Ares and Hermes.

The stars for Ophiuchus, to Kronos and somewhat Aphrodite.

The stars in his serpent, to Kronos and Ares.

The stars for Sagitta, to Ares and somewhat Aphrodite.

The stars in Aquila, to Ares and Zeus.

The stars in Delphinus, to Kronos and Ares.

The bright stars for Pegasus, to Ares and Hermes.

The stars in Andromeda, to Aphrodite.

And the stars in Triangulum around Aries, to Hermes.

5. Concerning the Formations Farther South than the Zodiac

Of the stars in formations farther south than the zodiac, the bright star
in the mouth of Pisces Australis is similar to the star of Aphrodite and
the star of Hermes.

The stars in Cetus, to the star of Kronos.

28

Of the stars in Orion, those upon his shoulders are similar to the
star of Ares and the star of Hermes; but the remaining bright stars, to
the star of Zeus and the star of Kronos.

Of the stars in Eridanus, the last and bright star, to the star of Zeus;
but the remaining stars, to the star of Kronos.

The stars in Lepus, to the star of Kronos and the star of Hermes.

Of the stars in Canis, the others, to the star of Aphrodite; but the
bright star in his mouth, to the star of Zeus and somewhat to the star of

The bright star in Procyon, to the star of Hermes and somewhat to
the star of Ares.

The bright stars for Hydra, to the star of Kronos and the star of
Aphrodite.

The stars in Crater, to the star of Aphrodite and somewhat to the
star of Hermes.

The stars in Corvus, to the star of Ares and the star of Kronos.

The bright stars in Argo, to the star of Kronos and the star of Zeus.

Of the stars in Centaurus, the ones in the human body, to the star
of Aphrodite and the star of Hermes; but bright stars in the horse, to the
star of Aphrodite and the star of Zeus.

The bright stars in Lupus, to the star of Kronos and somewhat to
the star of Ares.

The stars in Ara, to the star of Aphrodite and somewhat to the star
of Kronos.

And the bright stars in Corona Australis, to the star of Kronos and
the star of Hermes.

The individual powers of the fixed stars, then, under the
observations of the ancients happen to be such as these. Let it be
conceived, then, that each of these stars is affiliated to the same number
of lands, and the parts of the zodiacal circle, to which the fixed stars are
inclined when a circle is drawn through them and the poles,‘ seem to
cause the sympathy.

‘ It would appear from this passage that fixed star positions were projected
on to the ecliptic by means of great circles passing from the north celestial pole
through the star, through the equator, through the ecliptic to the south celestial
pole. In modem terms this would be equivalent to computing the longitude
equivalent of a star's right ascension without regarding declination. This would
also be the longiwde with which the star crosses the meridian circle. [RH]

29

6 . Concerning Trigons According to Dorotheus* *

Aries and Leo of flowing mane and Drawer of the Bow
Are of Helios by day and Zeus by night
In alternation, dreaded Kronos got the third allotment.

Of Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn are sovereign

By day the Foam-bom one,^ by night the heavenly Selene,

And third to follow these the god who rules the wars.

And in the present one it got as well the child of Maia.^

In Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius ice-cold

Phainon took his portion daily, Argus-Slayer"' nightly,

The Son of Kronos took the last of these.

Cancer, Scorpio and even Pisces last of all

Did Cypris get as lot by day, and Pyroeis by night.

And after these quick-glancing ones* queen Selene does have them.

7. The Places in Which the Stars Rejoice*

Of these therefore Aquarius is Kronos' preference,
Zeus is pleased in Sagittarius, Ares in Scorpio,
Cypris brightens up in Taums, Hermes gladdens
In the Maiden; one house there is for each light.

8. Concerning Exaltations^

At ten degrees plus nine exalts the Sun,

The Moon around the third degree of Taums,

In Libra's twentieth degree does Kronos, Aegis-Bearing
Zeus in ten and five of Cancer, Ares four times seven

’ This section is an excerpt from a didactic poem by Dorotheus.

^ Epithet of Aphrodite.

* Epithet for Hermes

* Epithet of Hermes.

* Epithet for the younger divinities Aphrodite and Ares.

* These verses are also excerpted from a didactic poem by Dorotheus.
These verses are also excerpted from a didactic poem by Dorotheus.

30

Degrees in Capricorn, Cypris three times nine degrees about
In Pisces, Hermes at three fives in Virgo.

Depressions are diameters of exaltations.

9. Concerning Sections That Command and Those That Obey

Sections which are figured at an equal interval from the same
equipartite point whatever are said to command and to obey.‘ And those
in the summer semicircle command, while those in the winter semicircle

10. Concerning Sections of Equal Power and Those Seeing

Parts that are equally distant from the same tropical point whatever are
said to be equipotent and to see to each other.^ These are said to be
friendly and akin because when the Sun is in each of them the days are
isochronous^ with the days and the nights with the nights and the
intervals of the proper hours are produced isochronously, and because
they rise from the same parts of the horizon and set in the same parts.

11. Concerning Unconnected Sections

Sections are unconnected and estranged, which do not have the relations
said above; that is, they are neither obeying nor commanding nor seeing

' The definition of commanding and obeying given here is different in an
important way from any previous author except Ptolemy. All other authors state
the definition in terms of positions equidistant from the equinoctial signs.
Hephaistio, like Ptolemy, makes the equinoctial point the position from which
equidistance is to be measured. This makes the commanding and obeying
relationship clearly the same as the relationship of contra-antiscion. The
confusion in the older authors may be due to their use of zodiacs in which the
equinox was not at 0° of the equinoctial signs, but at 15°, 10° or 8°. [RH]

^ Here again Hephaistio specifies the solstitial point, rather than the
solstitial signs. See the my note to chapter 9. [RH]

^ i.e., of the same length in time. [RH]

31

nor equipotent nor in a triangle nor in a square nor in a hexagon with
respect to each other. And these will be separate by one or five
twelfth-parts.'

12. Concerning the Difference of the Places

The following are the good places in which it is necessary for them
[i.e., the planets or zoidia] to be placed. First, the Horoskopos; second,
the Midheaven; 3rd, the Good Divinity;^ 4th, the Good Fortune;^ after
these, the Descendant; then, the pivot point under the earth; after all, the
ninth place, the so-called God. And these are the good places. Evil are
the 2nd, the 3rd from the Horoskopos, and the eighth; the two
remaining, which are the sixth and the twelfth, are the worst.

13. Concerning Rulership and Co-rulcrship

The lord'' of the house is said to be the ruler,’ but the star sharing’ a
house is said to be a co-ruler’ on the one hand, whenever the house
should be its own, and on the other, whenever the house should be the
exaltation or trigon or boundary of the star.® The ruler of the birth is the
one having more of the five relations of house, exaltation, trigon,

' This is the genuine inconjunct, i.e., not an aspect, not a relationship. [RH]
’ The eleventh house. [RH]

’ The fifth house. [RH]

’ oikodespetes. Literally, “master of the house.”

’ It is are not clear, despite the language, whether the second co-iuler in
what follows must occupy the house (i.e. zSidion). [RH]

’ smoikodespotes. In view of note 8 below, ‘co-ruler’ is perhaps not a
comprehensive enough word to translate the two senses of sun. This means that
we may have mistranslated this word in some of our previous translations.

* The prefix sun in Greek has two basic meanings: ‘with’ and ‘completely.’
Accordingly, there are two different senses of sunoikodespotes, one when a
planet is a co-ruler, and another when it is actually in its own house, at which
time it is completely the master of its house. Consequently there is no way to
translate this passage clearly into English without rewriting it. We simply have
to understand that ‘co-raler’ stands for two completely different concepts.

boundaries, and phase in relation to the Sun.*

14. Concerning Application and Separation

There is application and contact whenever the stars should conjoin with
each other, or else when they are about to apply when they are within
three degrees. The Moon is said to be about to apply when it is within
13 degrees. One star separates from another either bodily or after three

15. Concerning Enclosure^

Planets are said to be enclosed. For example, Leo and Libra enclose
Virgo. Whenever, then. Ares occurring in Aries should send* the rays
back to Libra diametrically, and to Leo triangularly, if it should happen
that the Moon or the Horoskopos is in Virgo while none of the benefics
looks on, the figure will be base and it will cause short lives.

' Hephaistio is a bit unusual in defining what appears to be the ruler of the
chart as a whole as the planet having the most dignities (Almuten) in the
position of the Sun. Also in the first part of this chapter, the reader will note
that Hephaistio accords house ralership primarily to the sign mler (domicile) but
gives the other ralers a share. This is something of a compromise between
Almuten method of Ptolemy and the nilership method of Dorotheus which is
primarily the domicile ruler. This may be part of Hephaistio's synthesis of
Ptolemy and Dorotheus. [RH]

** This is something very much like the modem definition of orb of aspect.
However, it is not clear whether he limits this to conjunction only or applies it
to any aspect. The reader should note how small this is compared to other
authorities from the period, and medieval and renaissance authors. It is even
quite conservative by modem standards. [RH]

’ peiischesis.

pempso. This word means ‘to send’ or ‘to despatch,’ and at first glance
it would seem to be a synonym for ‘to hurl’ rays. But unless there is a mistake
here for Ares in Aquarius, Ares cannot be hurling its rays at Libra and Leo (see
next section). The word may also mean ‘to send back,’ and perhaps that is its
sense here, but then the whole concept seems hard to understand. ’The other
possibility is that it is referring not to the hurling of rays, but to casting a
glance (see next section)—the visual ray, not the effluent ray.

33

And containment' is said thus, whenever two stars should have the
Moon or the Horoskopos between them while no other planet interposes
rays in the intermediate interval. But the containment itself is difficult
whenever it is made hy malefics."

16. Concerning the Hurling of Rays

Every star which is following in figurations on the left hurls its rays at
a star which is preceding in figurations on the right. For example, a star
in Aries hurls its rays at a star in Capricorn in a square on the right;
similarly also at a star in Sagittarius in a triangle on the right.'*

But the preceding planet looks af the following planet, and when
it is carried towards it, it is superior to it, though it does not hurl its
rays. For, of every beam, the look^ is carried forward, the ray backward.
The one superior and the one [tithing]" are the same. For, a planet in
Aries is superior to, and tithes, a planet in Cancer.’

’ This corresponds to the later idea of obsession or besieged. [RH]

’ Cf. section 21 of The Thesaurus by Antiochus of Athens.

" opshis. That is, an actual ray of vision emanating from the eye.
According to Greek optical theory, vision is the result of this visual ray together
with an effluent ray emanating from the perceived body itself. The visual ray
apparently makes a mote formal or stmcrnring contribution to the actual
perception, while the effluent ray hurled from the body apparently has to do
with the material qualities of the perception, such as the color of the body.

" epidekateud. This word literally means something like ‘to tithe,’ but it is
not entirely clear why that is an appropriate word here. It seems to means that
the preceding planet ‘levies a tax upon’ the following one. Putting this together
with note 5, we might infer that the visual ray somehow taxes the planet it
impinges upon. Incidentally, in section 26 of the Thesaurus we tried to translate
this word as ‘position upon the tenth house’ because of the example that was
used. We now believe that translation to be wrong.

’ Since the “tithing” involved in the transiting motion has a quite different
effect upon a planet than the impacting of a hurled ray in the directive or
diurnal motion, one would thing that directions and transits should have very
different applications.

34

17. Concerning Spear-bearing'

There are three kinds of spear-bearing. The first is if, for a certain
planet that is in its own house or exaltation while being upon a pivot
point, another planet lying in its own house or exaltation should
scrutinize the degree pre-ascending it while hurling its rays. For
example, if Kronos in Aquarius should see the Sun diametrically when
it is in Leo, or Zeus in Sagittarius should see it triangularly; or again,
if Ares being in Capricorn should see Zeus in Cancer.

The second kind is spear-bearing said according to the hurling of
rays. For example, if, for a light upon one of the pivot points in the
Horoskopos or the Midheaven even if [the light] should lie in the house
of another of its sect, a star should hurl its rays—for the Sun, at the
pre-ascending degree; but for the Moon, at the degree next to that which
ascends—while hurling them according to an isosceles line.^ The
triangular spear-bearers are more powerful than the square or
diametrical ones, the hexagonal spear-bearers weaker than they are.

The third kind is if, for a star lying upon the Horoskopos or the
Midheaven, in a diurnal birth diurnal planets should act as spear-bearers
when they are preceding, while in a nocturnal birth, nocturnal planets
should so act when they are following. For this figure, the Sun will
have spear-bearing done on its behalf by a pre-ascending planet, the
Moon by those within seven degrees. Yet spear-bearing planets out of
sect do not harm the Sun if they are 15 degrees distant from it and
oriental. In the same way, the Sun itself is also able to act as
spear-bearer for its sect-mates when they are upon a pivot point, the
Moon similarly. Spear-bearers become out of sect whenever diurnal
planets act as spear-bearers for nocturnal planets, and nocturnal for
diurnal. And if the spear-bearing should be made by benefics, it has an
effect not insignificant.

18. Concerning the Twelfth-parts That Are According to Degrees
They call the twelfth-part of each star that zoidion at which the quantity

' The material in this section is very similar to that in section 23 of
Antiochus' Thesaurus.

' That is, the side of a equal-sided polygon.

35

that results from taking the degrees of the star twelve times ceases, after
it has been extended from the degree which the star occupies in the
direction of the following zoidia, with each of these zoidia being
reckoned by us at thirty degrees.'

19. Concerning One's; Own Face and Chariots and Thrones^

They say that [the stars] are in their own faces whenever each of them
should maintain the figuration to the Suit or else the Moon that its
house has to their houses. For example, whenever the star of Aphrodite
(for the sake of argument) should make an hexagonal interval to the
lights while being west relative to the Sun and east relative to the
Moon, in keeping with their houses."

And they say they are in their own chariots and thrones and such
like whenever they should happen to be affiliated with the places in
which they are taken in accordance with two or more of the ways set
out earlier—that is, by house, boundary, trigon, rising," exaltation." Then
especially they are at their highest."

' Despite Pingree's editorial note to this section, the method described has
nothing to do with chapter 22, Tetrabiblos. [Additional by RH] What Ptolemy
describes is the I'k” subdivision in which one is concerned only with the sign
oF the twelfth-part. The method given here is concerned with the degree as well
as the sign. However, we are also told by Hephaistio that we are to extend the
star's position twelve times starting with the position of the star itself. In other
words,, we ha,ve .l2x + x = 13x where x is the longitude of the star measured
from the beginning of the sign. This is the 13th harmonic form of the
dodekatemorion that we have previously encountered in Paulus, chapter 22.

" This section is a very close paraphrase of the first part of section 23,
Tetrabiblos.

" In Arabic astrology this dignity was called Almugea
" anaiole. In all our Greek translations so far, the fifth dignity has been
listed as phase (sometimes phase and configuration), but never decan. However,
it has been a little vague just what phase might mean in this context. Here it is
quite explicit: The planet is dignified when it is rising. The diurnal planets are
dignified at morning rising, the nocturnal at evening rising, and Hermes at both,
depending on its configuration. Cf. Introductory Matters of Paulus, section 6.
" See chapter 13. [RH]

" diamekotatos.

36

20. Concerning Universal Investigations and Effects* *

With these things set out ahead of time, it would be in order (since we
are in the main following the divine Ptolemy) to go through in a logical
manner the universal events that arise for regions and cities. These
result from the appearances* of eclipses of the Sun and the Moon
(particularly the ones more easily perceived) and the passages of the
stars during these appearances, and the stations and phases* of these

We will investigate these matters in the following manner. First, we
will observe for what regions and cities particular eclipses are
indicative,* and the stations and phases of the three planets Kronos,
Zeus, Ares. Then, it will be necessary to know in advance the time of
the indications and the quantity of the duration,* and for what sort of
genera the events will ensue. And finally, we will consider the quality
of what will itself be brought to completion.®

Accordingly, as regards the regions and cities, it is fitting to
consider the twelfth-part’ in which the eclipse occurs, which sort are
affiliated to it by a triangular or square figure, and similarly, for what
cities the phosphoresences* and the hour-markings* are harmonious with

' This entire section is a fairly close paraphrase and condensation various
sections of Book II of the Tetrabiblos, with a few curious modifications.

* phantasia. That is, appearances with less of a verbal sense, more in the
sense of a phenomenal appearance, since during the eclipse the Sun or the
Moon actually disappears.

* phasis. That is, ‘appearings’ during heliacal risings and settings.

* This phrase is the literal translation. Why don't we shorten “the quantity
of the duration” to “duration” simply? Because it is important to remember that
the Greeks regard time as a number, not a length (or other magnitude).

’ This is almost certainly the zoidion not the dodekatemorion or 13th
harmonic. [RH]

* phosphoria. Literally, the ‘bearing of light.’ This can mean the moment
when a the Moon or a planet is far enough distant from the Sun (traditionally
15 degrees) to shine forth. Akin to heliacal rising, but without the emphasis on
the horizon. Evidently, the affected cities also include those in which a
heliacally rising planet at the founding of the city was observed in a place
harmonious with the place of the eclipse.

37

the place of the eclipse. As for those [regions and cities] whose time of
founding is not discovered,' one must consider, with regard to the
Midheaven of those who are the leaders of kings at that time, whether
it has sympathy for the same place. So, for as many regions and cities
as we find the prescribed affiliation, for all of these one must suppose
that the event will, on the whole take place; but especially for those
which have a relationship to the twelfth-part of the eclipse itself, and in
as many of them as the eclipse appeared above the earth.

By calculating the time of duration of the whole eclipse for each
inhabited region^ in which the eclipses appear, it will result that
whatever the number of equipartite hours or parts thereof, we will
suppose for the solar eclipse that on the whole the effect is for the same
number of years, but for the lunar eclipse, likewise for the same number
of months. The intensification will be surveyed from the condition of
the place' of eclipse. For, if the place of the eclipse issues forth on the
eastern horizon, it will make the intensification of the event be in
accord with the first third of the entire time of the eclipse; and if on the
Midheaven, with the middle third; and if on the western horizon, with
the final third.

The particular relaxations and intensifications will be taken from
conjunctions during the event’ whenever they should occur upon the
[twelfth-parts] that introduce the cause or the ones figured with them,
and from the other passages whenever those stars productive of the
prognostication make risings or settings or stations or acronycal phases
while being configured with the twelfth-parts that have the cause, since
indeed when they are rising or stationing they make intensifications of
the events, but when they are setting and under the rays or when they
make acronycal phases they cause relaxations of the effects.

The sorts of genera for which the event will ensue we will know
from the specific characteristics and shapes of the zoidia upon which

’ horoskopia. That is, observation of the ‘horoskopos.’ Evidently, the
affected cities also include those places in which the ascendant for the founding
of the city is in harmonious aspect to the place of the eclipse.

‘ That is, for which there is no known founding chart. [RH]

^ oikesis. The same as the word for a sign as the domicile of a planet,
though it is evidently not used in that technical sense here.

' lopos. That is, its house position.

’ ana meson. Literally, ‘in the middle.’

38

may be found the places of the eclipses and the fixed and wandering
stars assuming the rulership of the twelfth-part of the eclipse and of the
pivot point before the eclipse. For the planets, the rulership of these
places is taken as follows: The one having the greatest number of
relationships to both the places set out, that of the eclipse and that of
the pivot point following it, both in accordance with the applications or
separations and figurations that appear closest,' and furthermore in
accordance with the ruler of the houses and trigons and exaltations and
boundaries, that planet will take the sole rulership. But if the same ruler
should not be found for the eclipse and the pivot point, but there are
two, then we will choose the one having the greater number of
affiliations with both, giving preference to the ruler of the ecUpse. And
if several rivals should be found for each place, we will prefer for the
rulership the one which is closer to a pivot point or more fit for
conducting business or more in sect. Of the fixed stars, we will select
the bright one that has conducted business with the place of the eclipse
itself upon the pivot point gone by, in accordance with the figurations
of the nine ways, and the one that has either co-risen or co-culminated
at the hour of the eclipse with the pivot point following the place of the

With the stars that take upon themselves the cause of the event so
considered, we will investigate the shapes of the zoidia in which both
the eclipse and the stars assuming the rulership are found. For, from the
specific characteristic of these the genus of the things disposed is
grasped on the whole. That is, the anthropomorphic zoidia, both
according to the zodiac and according to the fixed stars,^ furnish an
event for the genus of man; of the terrestrial zoidia, the quadrupedal
furnish an event for similar genera, and the creeping zoidia for animals
that crawl and drag themselves. And again, the animal zoidia for the
animals that are wild and harmful to man, but the tame ones for the
useful and domesticated animals, such as horses, oxen, cattle, and such
like. Furthermore, of terrestrial zoidia, those to the north ate more for
unforeseen movements of the earth, while those to the south are for

' This is yet another statement of how the “fifth dignity” works. It is
elearly neither a decanic face nor a “proper face.” [RH]

^ This may be making a distinction between a tropical and a constellational
zodiac, or perhaps merely between zodiacal constellations and extra-zodiacal
constellations.

39

unexpected rains from the air. Again, in the formations of the winged
zoidia that are the authoritative places, such as Virgo, Sagittarius,
Cygnus, Aquila, and such, it will distinguish the winged animals useful
for food. And in the swimming zoidia, for aquatic animals and fish.
And Cancer and Capricorn and Delphis appertain to the seas and to the
sailing of fleets; Aquarius and Ksces to rivers and springs; and Argo to
both.

Also, the tropical and equipartite zoidia will [in general] furnish the
indications for the conditions of the air and the seasons. And
particularly, the proper times for the things growing from the earth. At
the spring equinox, they will furnish indications for the shoots of the
fruit trees, with the fruits maturing at that time; at the summer solstice,
for the gathering and storage of fruits, and in Egypt pecuUarly, for
rising of the Nile; at the fall equinox, for the sowing; at the winter
solstice, for the vegetables and for the birds and fish prevalent at that
time. In addition, the equipartite zoidia have significance for sacred rites
and divine worship; the tropical ones for the changes in the air and in
political customs; the solid ones for foundations and house building; the
bicorporeal ones for men and kings.

Similarly also, those zoidia having a position nearer the orient at
the time of the eclipse signify what will happen for youth and fruits and
foundations, while those nearer to the culmination under the earth
signify what will happen for priestly rites and kings and middle age,
while those nearer the Occident what will happen for changes in the
laws and old age and those who have departed to their graves.

As concerns how great a portion of the underlying genus the
disposition will touch, this is suggested by the magnitude of the
obscuration of eclipses and the relationships of the stars introducing the
cause to the place of the eclipse. For, when they are configured west
relative to the solar eclipses and east relative to the lunar, they dispose
for a lesser part. But if they are diametrically opposed, about a half.
And if they should be east relative to the solar and west relative to the
lunar, they dispose for a greater part.

Whether the effect itself is productive of good or of the opposite,
we will take that which is made from the productive nature of the
rulers, and the commixture of this their combined productive nature
together with the places in which they should be. We will begin with
the specific productive characteristics for each one of the planets,
adding by way of explanation the general remark that in the commix-

tures it is not only necessary to investigate the mixing of the planets
with each other, but also the mixing for the ones that share the same
nature, either fixed stars or zodiacal places in accordance with the
things demonstrated of them for the affiliation of the planets.

We will do an exposition for the five planets. When the star of
Kronos assumes the rulership alone, then, it will in general be a cause
of destruction by cold. And in particular, when the event concerns men,
it introduces long illnesses and decaying and wasting and disturbances
of the fluids and quartan fevers, banishment and impasses and poverty
and imprisonment and fears and deaths, especially for those of advanced
age. And of the irrational animals, for the ones that are of service, it
introduces scarcity and the bodily destruction of those that exist, and it
introduces carriers of disease, from which those who use them perish
if they are similarly disposed. As concerns the condition of the air, it is
frightfully cold, freezing and foggy and pestilential, and number of
snowstorms and not beneficial ones. As concerns the rivers and seas, it
introduces storms and wrecks of fleets, particularly sea tides that are
sucked out and rush back, and the flooding and fouling of the rivers. As
for the fruits of the earth, it introduces want and destruction, either by
caterpillars or locusts or mice or cataclysms or hail or such things.

And when the star of Zeus alone assumes the rulership, in general
it is productive of increase. And in particular, when the effect concerns
men, it produces reputation and peaceful conditions and prosperity, good
health both in body and in soul, and gifts from those who rule, and
quite simply it is a cause of happiness. As concerns the irrational
animals, it introduces an abundance and multitude of those for human
use, and the disappearance and destruction of those which are the
opposite of useful. It makes the condition of the air be temperate and
healthful and windy and moist and nurturing of the things upon the
earth. It makes for the fair sailing of fleets and the proportionate rising
of rivers and an abundance of fruits and whatever is similar to these

When the star of Ares alone assumes the rulership, it is in general
a cause of destruction by dryness. And particularly, when the event
concerns men, it introduces wars and internecine factionalism and
captivities and uprisings and the wrath of leaders and unforeseen deaths
through such things. Furthermore, it introduces feverish illnesses and
tertian agues and the raising of blood and sudden violent deaths,
especially of those in their prime, and similarly, violence and
wantonness and lawlessness and robbery and arson. As for the condition

41

of the air, it introduces scorching weather and hot winds, pestilence, the
unleashing of thunderbolts and hurricanes and droughts. And for the sea,
it introduces the unforeseen shipwreck of fleets through disorderly
winds. Of the irrational animals and things growing out of the earth, it
introduces a scarcity of those for human use, either by the desiccation
of scorching weather or boiling or the beating of the winds or from fires
in the stores.

When the star of Aphrodite alone becomes lord of the result, it in
general causes things of the same sort as Zeus does, along with a
certain additional Aphrodisian character. And particularly, for men it
causes reputation and honor and happiness and abundance and good
marriages and many children and pleasure in every union and the
increase of acquisitions and a pure mode of living and reverential
honorings. As regards the air, it causes temperate and wet and nurturing
conditions, fine and clear air and abundance of water and fair sailing
and good fortune and the full rising of rivers. And of the useful animals
and fruits of the earth, it especially introduces abundance and good
yields and profits.

When the star of Hermes alone assumes the lordship, it is in
general the case that if it should be closely commingled' with each of
the others, it is affiliated with their natures. And particularly, it is more
productive of movement in everything. And in human effects it is acute
and most practical and full of devices for the task at hand, but when it
is in configurations with the malefics, it is productive of robberies and
thefts and piracy and bad sailing, and is a cause of illnesses of dryness
and quotidian agues and coughs and vomiting and wasting. It is
productive of what appertains to priestly matters and the worship of the
gods and royal revenues, and of the change of current customs and laws
by its commixture with the stars on each occasion. For the surrounding
atmosphere, since it is rather dry and moveable owing to its proximity
to the Sun and the quickness of its whirling around, it is especially
productive of disorderly, abrupt, and changeable winds, and it is,
reasonably enough, productive of thunder and hurricanes and chasms
and earthquakes and lightning. Also, it causes the diminishment of
useful animals and plants and of rivers in its settings, but their increase

' This is the usual astrological term for the mixing of qualities and
elements, but it can also be used metaphorically, as here, for a close or intimate
relationship between two things.

42

in its risings.

When each planet happens to be in its own proper nature, it
produces such things in an individual manner. But when one planet has
commingled with another in accordance with the figurations and the
alterations* of the zoidia and the phases in relation to the Sun, by
analogously taking the commixture of their actions which is blended
from the natures of the ones that have formed the union, it will create
a specific characteristic for its effect which is complex. But since it
limitless and impossible to distinguish in an articulate manner the
particular effect for each commixture as well as absolutely all the
configurations of whatever kind, it would be reasonable to leave such
a form to the apprehensions and conceptions of the mathematician for
the particular distinctions.

It is necessary to observe how the stars assuming the rulership have
affiliation to the regions and cities for which the event is signified. For,
if they are benefic and affiliated with those regions which are being
disposed, and if they are not condescended to^ by planets of the
opposite sect, they will all the more produce the benefit for their
individual nature, just as when they are not so they are of little help.
But when the planets similarly assuming the lordship should be of a
harmful mixture, if they should happen to be affiliated with the regions
being disposed, or if they should be condescended to by those of the
opposite sect, they will cause little harm. But if they should not happen
to be so, they will introduce exceedingly much harm. And for those
men having at their own births the most necessary^ places (I mean the
places of the phosphorescent stars and those of the pivot points) the
same as those places that introduce the cause of general matters (that is,
the same as the places of the eclipse or else the place diametrically
opposite these), the degrees touching the places of the eclipse in relation
to either of the lights, or the ones diametrically opposed to them,
happen to be the hardest of all and the most difficult to prevent.

' enalloidsis. This word does not properly mean ‘exchange,’ but merely ‘a
change from one state to another.’ Perhaps he means the subtle commingling
of planetary natures resulting from one planet's occupying the house, boundary,
decan, etc., of another.

^ A passive form of kathupertereo, which we regularly translate as ‘to be
superior.’

•* anankaiotatos.

43

21 . Effects of the Eclipses and Comets That Arise’

The ancient Egyptians recorded the effects that arise from eclipses, most
of which we mention briefly as follows. For total eclipses, the color
black signifies the death of the ruler and depression and famine and
change; red, affliction of the land; whitish, famine and death for the
herds; purple, war and famine; gold-like, pestilence and death.

Of the winds, those blowing from the north or else another part of
the horizon at the time of immersion’ and continuation’ signify
depression in those nearby lands over which they should be blowing. In
the purgation'* of the eclipse, other winds will bring increase to the land
under them. For example, the north wind will bring increase to the
lands to the north, the south the lands to the south, and similarly for the
remaining winds. If the land to which the purgative wind belongs
marches against the one of the immersion, it will conquer by being
superior. But if the eclipse should arise with two winds, and if it should
be purged by one or two, one must distinguish in the same fashion. For,
the winds of purgation reveal auspicious matters for the countries lying
under them, those of immersion the opposite. And if there should be the
same wind for immersion and purgation, it will depress the country, but
no one will march against it.

While the Moon is in eclipse, whenever a shooting star should
come running over it, it will reveal that a great tyrant will be depressed
and will have his house in disorder. If the disk of the Moon should be
totally eclipsed, the tyrant will be trapped within walls, being besieged
by enemies. And if a star should come out, he will be taken captive by
them. When the Moon is totally eclipsed, arising thunder signifies the
purgation of the tyrant and depression of the land. When either the Sun
or the Moon is undergoing eclipse, the onset of rain signifies death. And
if the eclipse takes place at the same time as a rising, and it should hold

' There is no real counterpart to this material in Ptolemy, and some
scholars have considered it to be authentic material from the source book of
Nechepso and Petosiris.

’ emptosis. Literally, ‘falling into.’

■' katharsis. In a ritualistic context this word has the sense of ‘purification,’
and if may be that the eclipse was regarded as bringing about such a “catharsis”
for the regions in question.

44

sway for three hours until the purgation, the things signified will come
to pass three months after the eclipse; if the eclipse takes place four
hours after rising and lasts for (wo hours until it should be purged, the
things signified will come to pass six months after it; and the time will
be judged similarly up to the twelfth hour.

In general, they say that when the Moon is undergoing eclipse in
Aries it signifies that there will be a dearth of everything; in Taurus, the
destruction of grain; in Gemini and Cancer, an abundance of grain and
wine; in Leo, plenty of grain in the plains; in Virgo, the destruction of
cattle and fruit trees; in Libra, the destruction of grain by locusts and
disease; in Scorpio, pestilence; in Sagittarius, rain and hail; in
Capricorn, there will be grain in the plains and great winds; in
Aquarius, the destruction of the grain-supply and of the grain in the
plains; in Pisces, the early fruiting of grain.

And they say that the Sun undergoing eclipse in Aries points to an
abundance of grain and a healthy year; in Taurus, the destruction of
grain by locusts; in Gemini, violent pestilence; in Cancer, much rain and
scarcity of grain; in Leo, scarcity of grain; in Virgo, the east wind
blows for three months; in Libra, thunder and famine;' in Capricorn,
scarcity of grain; in Aquarius, an abundance of grain; in Pisces, little

In particular, they determined that when a eclipse takes place in
Aries there will be the greatest affliction in Egypt and in the places over
against Syria, and deaths and plots and destructions for the rulers of
those places, and the expulsion of men of repute, and clashes of armies,
and seizures and conflagrations; in Libya, the uprising of the multitude
and danger to the leader and to the leaders east and west.

In Taurus, a dearth of grain in Egypt and instabilities of the
multitude; when the eclipse takes place from the fourth hour to the
ninth, wars in Media and in Elymais; in Cyprus, grain-rust; in Asia,
celebrations, festivals, plenty; when the eclipse takes place from the
rising hours, there will be trouble in Syria, and the ruler of Syria and
Egypt, after having quarrelled, destroy each other after a year and six
months, and are succeeded by others; when it takes place from the
setting hours, there will be defeat and depression for those inhabited
regions to the east.

When the Sun undergoes eclipse in Gemini in the first three hours.

' Scorpio and Sagittarius lacking in the paragraph.

45

they determined that the one ruling Asia will die after a year and the
men of the first rank will be cut down by the crowd; when it undergoes
eclipse in the last three hours, there will be death and destruction in
Italy and Cilicia and Libya and in settlements to the east; When the
, Moon is undergoing eclipse in the first three hours, serious harm to the
king of Asia and destruction foe the inhabitants and quadrupeds,
especially for cattle; in the second three hours, slaughtering in Libya
and Syria and Babylonia; if in the fourth three hours, certain parts of
Egypt and Libya and Cilicia and Rome will be oppressed, and those
who are subordinate will be harmed, chiefly by those who are superior.

When the Sun is undergoing eclipse in Cancer in whichever three
hour period, it signifies affliction over the whole earth, and instabilities
from rising to setting for the inhabitants; for the Moon, the mler of
Syria will clash with another ruler and a certain great man will be
destroyed, and the leader will be given up by the multitude, and
prominent places will disappear by earthquakes, and esteemed men will
be destroyed; if in the last 2 three hours periods, there will be
destruction in Babylon and Ethiopia, tranquillity in the Indies,
disappearance of animals everywhere.

When the Sun is undergoing eclipse in Leo for the first three hours,
it signifies that an army of barbarians will fight with the Hellenes and
overcome them; if for Egypt in the second three hours, the greatest man
will be destroyed and there will be troubles and plundering and violent
seizures; if in the third three hours, many extraordinary things will
occupy Phrygia and Ciheia and Thrace; if in the fourth three hour
period (which is the time for setting), it signifies the assault and fall of
barbarians; when the Moon is undergoing eclipse in Leo for the first
three hour period, it signifies that a leader will march against Cyprus
after a year with a great multitude and after many have gone there from
Egypt, and after many men have died, it will not turn out successfully;
in Babylonia, a leader will cause a revolt, and the western lands will kill
their ruler and from such revolution the country will be destroyed; if in
the second three hours, it reveals that the sea will be in turmoil; if in
the final three hours, it reveals clashes between the throngs of Egypt
and the inhabitants to the east.

When the Moon is undergoing two digits' worth of eclipse in its

‘ An astronomical measurement equaling 1/12 of the apparent diameter of
the Sun or Moon.

46

southern part in Virgo, it signifies that the greatest city will be laid
waste and the notable men depressed and their children taken away, and
much savagery and distress will arise from the mass-rule, and those
craving assistance will appeal to the leader of Egypt; if the northern half
or third of the disk is undergoing eclipse in the second three hours, it
signifies a sad plight for the Egyptians and that a ruler from without
will make an expedition against Asia and there will be slaves and
betrayal, and many will revolt from the former leader; and if it should
undergo eclipse in the final three hours, it signifies that much affliction
is made for the inhabitants to the east. They also gave the same
indications for the solar eclipses.

When the Sun is undergoing eclipse in Libra (or the Claws of
Scorpio) during the first or second period of three hours, it signifies that
there will be much rain in the places of the sea toward the north, so that
it will not be possible to harvest the crops; the events will be in
Arcadia, Sousiana, Bactriana, Ethiopia and in the region around the
Euphrates; when it should undergo eclipse from the fourth to the sixth
hour and should encircle the mouth of Scorpio and should be purged
from the north, it shows that after nine months the king of Asia will
murder those who have plotted against him, and there will be much
trouble in Cilicia, Macedon, Libya, and Italy, and three years after the
time of the eclipse the king of Egypt will wage a war against the king
of Syria and will be defeated, and in Egypt the legions will assemble
and after having formed a faction, the principals will be done away with
by the crowd; if the Sun undergoes eclipse in the third three hour
period, there will be disease amongst the inhabitants of Phoenicia and
Cappadocia, and in Syria the death of dogs and thereafter humans; when
the eclipse takes place during the tenth and eleventh hours, it signifies
death for wild animals and those under the yoke. And Vvhen the Moon
undergoes eclipse for the first three hours, it declares that every distress
and unpleasanmess will be engendered in every land, and that the strong
will be thrown against those subordinate to them as the public
authorities also force their rulers to flee; if it undergoes eclipse from the
third hour to the seventh, it will cause relaxation in the Vale of Syria
and Phoenicia and Libya and Egypt; if it is undergoing eclipse in the
ten and eleventh hours, it signifies uproar in Ionia and war in the places
by the sea and a dearth of crops.

When then Sun has undergone eclipse for the second and third hour
in Scorpio, it will cause a war of the Galatians against the Hellenes, and
in Libya the earth will bring forth many wild beasts; when it has

47

undergone eclipse from the third to the fifth hour, it signifies
unpleasantnesses for the rulers of Armenia, Cappadocia, Lydia, Phrygia,
Ionia, Hellespontus; when it has undergone eclipse in the third three
hour period, it shows desolation in the lands to the east as cities appeal
to cities for help; when it has undergone eclipse in the final three hours
and has set before being purged, it reveals that the land to the east will
disappear after a year and its ruler will perish. And when the Moon has
undergone eclipse in the first and second hour, it shows that there will
be scarcity in the inhabited regions; if in the third and fourth and fifth,
that there will be war in Syria and Cilicia and Phoenicia and Egypt, and
many locusts and wild beasts will consume the crops, and many
incredible signs will ensue; if it should undergo eclipse in the eighth
and ninth hours or up until setting, it signifies that the multitude in
Egypt will depose the leader and great men will be done away with, and
it signifies mishaps in Euboea and the land of Persia.

If the Sun has undergone eclipse in the first four hours in
Sagittarius, the Cretan tribe will have war, and factions and war on all
sides; if in the fifth or sixth or seventh hour, it shows war in Iberia,
Scythia, Hellas, assault by barbarians and war in Syria, destruction in
Babylon; if it has undergone eclipse from the eight hour to the twelfth,
there will be upsets in coastal cities, and the common weal of these
cities will perish, and there will be controversy between the rulers of
Asia and Egypt, and it signifies that the Sousianan land wiU be overrun
by its neighbors. If the Moon is undergoing eclipse in the first four
hours, the signs will be military movement, upheaval and fears amongst
those holding the common weal, and diseases of the eyes in the autumn
and in many places—in Caria, Ionia, Egypt, Arabia, Babylonia,
Mesopotamia and in the lands along the Nile and Euphrates up to the
Red Sea and Elymais—and the year will be full of deceits and cold all
around and full of sorrow as wretched suspicions are engendered in
men, and one schemes with the slaves of another as malefactors rob
their neighbors and levies of money are made against the wealthy; if it
prevails from the fourth hour up to the tenth, it signifies expeditions of
barbarians against the Hellenes and uproar in Macedonia and the fall of
the principals; if in the remaining hours, it shows that those who inhabit
the east will besiege them as wild beasts will devour their dead.

When the Sun is undergoing eclipse in Capricorn at about the first
three hours, it signifies affliction for the inhabitants to the south; if at
about the second three hours, it shows affliction for Elymaia, the
Persians, Media, Germania, India, and for the inhabitants to the east and

rising quarter; if in the third three hour period, it signifies war for the
inhabitants of Pontus, and also for the inhabitants of Asia and Cyprus
and those to the south, and furthermore, it signifies disease and the
destruction of the fruits and plants of the earth; if in the final three
hours, it signifies the perishing of quadrupeds in the west. When the
Moon has undergone eclipse in the first three hours, it signifies that a
great man from Asia will wage war against Egypt and the leader will
be taken prisoner and that of the people, some will perish, others will
be subjugated; and that after the leader's release, there will be
internecine warfare and rule of the people, and the principals will be cut
down, and others will cause revolt against the leader, and one will steal
possessions from another, and that their masters will ask for more
sustenance due to famine; if it should be undergoing eclipse in the next
hours up until the eighth, there will be attacks of intermittent diseases
from rising to setting, and Phoenicia will be under siege from without,
but the besieger will accomplish nothing because the zoidion of Ilithyia,
which is headless, shares with Capricorn; if it is undergoing eclipse in
the final hours, or else should set while having some part in ecUpse, it
signifies that an army from without will come to Asia, and the former
ruler will be captured after having been left behind by his own people,
and after some time those who plotted against the ruler will pay their
respects to justice.

When the Sun has undergone eclipse in Aquarius in the first three
hours, it signifies affliction for the parts to the east (Mesopotamia,
Arabia, the Vale of Syria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Libya) and for all the
regions to the west, and that there will be assemblies of the multitude;
if it is undergoing eclipse in the second three hour period, it will cause
damage to the budding Iriiits and it will ruin with inundation many
plants that have just sprouted; if in the third three hour period, it reveals
that there will be strife and factionalism in Italy, Cilicia, Libya,
Laconica and for the same cities with each other; similarly, if in the
final three hours, it signifies the same things. When the Moon is
undergoing a total or half eclipse in the first three hours, it signifies that
many troublesome and grievous things will be imposed by the rulers in
Cilicia; if in the second three hour period likewise; if in the third, it
signifies that there will be something extraordinary and full of sorrow
around Cyprus, and that the Tyrrenians and the Italians will encounter
serious illnesses; if in the final three hours, it signifies that the people
in the environs of Libya will fight with the inhabitants of the cities, and

49

that their fruits will be gathered by others and their roads closed.

When either the whole or half the disk of the Sun is undergoing
ecUpse in Pisces in the first three hours, it reveals that the ruler of Asia
will be depressed by barbarians and much will be wasted, and after a
three year interval or a little more, another will assume power; if it
undergoes eclipse in the fourth and fifth hours, it signifies that Egypt
and Syria will be tronbled from many sources; if in the seventh or
eighth hours, that Armenia, Cappadocia, Phrygia, Ionia, Lydia,
Hellespontus will fall upon hard times; if it has undergone eclipse in the
tenth and eleventh hour, it signifies that there will be death for men
from the barbarian lands to the Hellenes, and pestilence in the places by
the sea. And when the Moon is undergoing eclipse in the first three
hours, it shows iUness, trouble, sales, seizures in Egypt; if in the second
three hours, it reveals that there will be sorrow over the child of the
ruler, and destruction for the ruler himself, and difficult and dangerous
illness, and that in Cyprus locusts will cause much damage; if in the
third three hour period, there will be pirates everywhere at sea; if it
undergoes eclipse in the final portion of hours, it signifies that fish will
be caught everywhere, and that the Medes will be at war with each
other. And when the Moon, or the eclipse itself, is the of the same color
as the sky, it signifies the death of men on all sides.

And in general, when the eclipse takes place in Capricorn,
Aquarius, Pisces, Aries, they prognosticated it as meaning harm to
kings, while in Taurus and Gemini and Cancer and Leo, instabilities and
disturbances and conflicts of the masses, and in Virgo and Libra and
Scorpio and Sagittarius, marshy conditions' in sacred places and
common ones and countries. And they observed that the eclipses of the
Moon and Sun that take place in the same month at the diametrical
opposition are productive by means of a commixture of the aforemen¬
tioned effects of each eclipse. And in order that we should not make
these comments too long, let this be said so that the intelligent can
decide for themselves.

‘ hemes'!

50

22. Concerning the Signs' During the Eclipse

Let there be added in this section the things that arise during eclipses.
If, then, while the eclipse is taking place, stars should shoot toward the
lack of the Moon, they will indicate a struggle of armies in the zone
associated with the zoidion. If a storm should spring up in the eclipse
of the Sun or Moon, it reveals that there will be a death-bringing
plague.

When the Sun should be undergoing a total eclipse in Aries or else,
having been obscured, if should become like a mirror or as having the
beams of the Moon without the rays, it will signify the destruction of
great and famous men in Syria. And if such should appear in
Sagittarius, it signifies that for two days it will be more intense and
larger. If [the Sun] should become red for the whole day so that even
the ground reflects the flush, it shows the destruction of fruits and men
and that there will be troubles in many places. And if in Gemini it
should be become blood-red from rising until setting, it signifies that
there will be much affliction and a dearth of Suits in Libya and Cilicia.
And if in Cancer it should become blood-red, it will disturb the queen
of the Indes and of the Syrians and of the Egyptians. If in Virgo,^ it
declares that there will be slaughter and insurrections of the multitude
against the leader. And if in the Claws it should become red. it makes
the multitude defect from their ruler, but when it rises faint, it signifies
that there will be war and narrow straits in Libya and Cilicia and Italy
and Phoenicia and for those who dwell to the west. And in Scorpio, it
will reveal something wicked in Libya and Ethiopia. When in
Sagittarius,^ if something like a comet should have risen red, it signifies
war with the leader of Asia; and if it should spread out its hair toward
the north, it will produce distress and a dearth of the fruits of fruit trees.
When it has become obscured in Capricorn, it signifies uproar and
wintry weather under it. And if in Aquarius it becomes red, it makes
explicit that encampments will be set against the friends of the southern

‘ semeios. This is sign in the sense of a portent, not a division of the
^ The delineation for Leo is lacking in the text.

’ The subject would seem to still be the Sun. However, out of context the
passage could also read “if something like a comet should have risen red in
Sagittarius.”

51

king. When in Pisces, if a comet should arise, and some other sacred
star should be seen outside of the course’ they say that there will be
troubles and slaughter in Egypt and Syria, and many extraordinary and
indecent and monstrous things, and instability for a long time.

If when the Sun is in Aries, stars should be seen in the day, they
reveal insurrections and slaughter. And when the Sun^ is in Sagittarius,
^if a star should be seen by day, it declares that there will be war in
Egypt and Asia. And when in Capricorn, if a sacred star should race
through making a great light, it signifies distress and calamity in the
coastal cities in the countries to the south. When in Aquarius, if stars
appear by day, it proclaims a war in Egypt and assemblies for injustice.
When in Pisces, if a certain star should be seen by day in whatever
place, it signifies restrictions for the men at that place and an increase
of afflictions and slaves who have hidden.

And they indicated that total eclipses under the earth were the
major causes of earthquakes. And that the royal trigon through Aries
and Leo and Sagittarius also rules in the royal court. And that when the
Sun is undergoing eclipse, death is signified for the tyrants and leaders
for the east and Asia, while when the Moon was in eclipse, for those in
Europe and the west. And especially, that when the Snn is undergoing
eclipse in Aquarius and Leo, it signifies that there will be barrenness,
the drying up of rivets and waters—for Aquarius, of the waters to the
north; for Leo, of the waters in Egypt and the south. And that it
signifies that the daily retreats, floods, tides of Oceanus, of the Atlantic
Ocean, and of the Red Sea in both east and west are moved and made
to oscillate by the risings and settings of the Moon.

‘ Evidently, the ecliptic, where the planets ran their course.

^ Again assuming here (and in upcoming the next few sentences) that the
understood subject here is the Sun, although out of context it could also read
“if a star should be seen in Sagittarius by day.”

’ Delineations for Taurus through Scorpio lacking. Apparently another

52

23. Concerning the Indications of the Arising of the Dog Star and
of the Stars Accompanying It

The wise Egyptians bom long ago also observed the arisings of Sothis'
in the 25th month of Epiphi and they set out the effects of these
arisings. I will communicate a few, easily detected effects from among
those which are greatest.

When Sirius rises gold-like it becomes profitable for all; for, it
reveals fertility and the best things in the land, and it reveals the rising
and flooding of the waters in due season and in moderation. And makes .
a similar revelation for the sowing and the remainder. But when the star ,,
rises dark, everything will be the opposite, and offspring will scarce and
foetuses will be aborted.

When the star arises great and bright with a north wind blowing,
it reveals the moderate rising of the waters, and that the remaining
matters are for the sake of what is beneficial, seeds and necessaries and
fertility; and it reveals the king's victory over his rivals. But when it
rises small and gloomy with a north wind blowing, it signifies that
outsiders will march against the country and it will not turn out well,
and that the rising of the Nile and the flooding of the waters will be
auspicious, and honorariums will be reduced in amount. And if it rises
great and bright with a west and southwest wind blowing, it reveals
abstinence and death, and due rising of the waters and famine. And if
it rises great and bright with a northeast wind blowing, it signifies that
the king of the land will abdicate his throne and become obscure, and
that there will be war. But if it rises small with a northeast wind
blowing, it signifies that the rising will be moderate, and that the
regions of the Ethiopians will be conquered by force. And if it rises
black, it makes pestilence; if pallid, illnesses; if fiery, war and slaughter.

One must also investigate the Moon and the five stars, what manner
of figure and motion and color they have in relation to the star in its
arising. For, the color signifies the affections, the figures and kind of
motion or the stations make the activity more powerful or feeble. Every

' Along with the Dog Star, this is another name for Sirius. The Sothic or
Egyptian year of 365‘A days took its name and definition from this star, for the
Sothic year was determined by the heliacal rising of Sirius. This year is called
“mobile” because the rising of Sirius gradually drifts through the seasons due
to the slight difference between the sidereal and the tropical year.

53

star when it is farthest from the earth shares in a certain manner in the
power of the higher star; but when it is nearest to the earth, it partakes
of the power of the lower; and when each star moves with motions in
the middle, it has its own power free from the participation of the other
stars. When the star of Kronos comes to be farthest from the earth, it
becomes coldest and co-disposes things on the earth in such a way. And
when the Moon happens to be nearest the earth, it alters things upon the
earth more at that time than in any other of its positions. The
intermediate stars, as I said, share the power of the others! As for their
motions and positions, then, one must also investigate the actions. In
their stations each of them signifies, and in the second station even
strengthens, the effect of the power of the star. The Moon causes the
most easily detected indications among the effluences of the stars, and
the remainder of the stars do so in relation to each other.

When the star of Ares and that of Kronos happen to be in the
Moon's places of eclipse without benefics, they will be a contributing
cause of pestilence, especially around the feet of Gemini and the breast
of Cancer, and their first magnitude stars, and the Manger, the breast of
Leo, and the faint star upon the breast of Virgo, and the last star of
Libra, and the southern star in the Balance, and the forehead of Scorpio,
and the stars around the left hand of Sagittarius, and the two stars in the
tail of Capricorn. And when an eclipse of the Sun and Moon takes place
in these parts or even separate from them, if it is enclosed* by malefics
while Hermes is afflicted together with it, there being no Witnessing by
benefics, it will be made most difficult, and especially in the tropical
Zioidia. For, the eclipses upon these zoidia, and especially those of the
Sun, cause earthly^ events, while eclipses upon Leo cause afflictions of
kings and the barrenness of rivers.

One must observe, then, the summer tropics and the winter tropics
and the other tropics^ and the nearest conjunctions that take place in
them. One must also investigate how the other five planets are related
to them, and thus conjecture the event about to take place. For, when
Ares alone bears witness by presence or diameter or square, one must

* See section 15 for a definition of enclosure.

^ kosmikos.

^ See Book I section 13 of the Tetrabiblos for a passing remark about
another set of “tropics” defined by the ascending and descending motion of the

54

suspect conflagrations for the underlying country with which the zoidion
is associated. When Kronos alone bears witness, one must suspect the
effects of Kronos, that is, frost and the coldest things. Whence, it is
necessary to look into the conjunctions and whole moons that have
taken place previously for the tropical and equipartite zoidia, and the
ones in between up to the next turnings, lest perchance they should be
witnessed by benefics or malefics, and to take the condition, that of the
next three month interval, in relation to them; and to look into monthly
matters from the conjunctions by month, and yearly matters from the
crescent figures of the Moon, and the half moons, convex moons, whole
moons and conjunctions. Furthermore, when the five planets are
morning risers and when they are additive in the season of rising of
Sirius, or even just some of them (especially Aphrodite and Hermes),
they will make the risings of the Nile fine and great and seasonable.
And each of the three Kronos, Zeus, and Ares was also observed, that
when they are of the morning condition they make risings; and that
when they are of the evening and setting condition, they make the
opposite.

The effects that the 5 planets produce in the twelfth-parts in
accordance with the rising of the star are these: Kronos in Cancer
signifies that the king will leave his throne behind or even die, and that
factions and changes will be made in the royal retinue, and that the
rising of the Nile will be slight, and that there will be scarcity of
offspring; Kronos in Leo, that the risings will be seasonable, there will
be affliction of the outer places, a multitude of flocks, destruction of
men; in Virgo, that there will be abstinence and instability over the
whole earth, and that the crocodiles will be more savage, the deaths
many, and there will be assaults of demons, and bumt-offerings to put
the dead to rest, and an abundance of dry crops; in Libra, it signifies
that there will be war in Egypt and insurrections, and that the rising of
the river will be much in the first year, little in the second and swearing
of the priests, in the third an abundance of offspring; in Scorpio, it
signifies deaths for the entire inhabited world and rising and little grain;
in Sagittarius, it signifies the destruction of the leaders of Egypt, and
that the taxes will be unbearable and there will be sacrilege; in
Capricorn, that there will be war in Egypt, destruction of the friends of
the king or even of himself, and that the poor will be rich and the rich
will go begging, and that the statues will be stolen, and there will be
anarchy; in Aquarius, it shows that two kings will wage war for the

55

sake of rule over each other, and that the rule will not come to children,
and that the rising will be slight, and that the sowing and the plants will
bear good fruit, and that there will be pestilence; in Pisces, it signifies
that the rising will be much and there will be deaths, and a relative of
the king will perish; in Aries, it is a cause of much affliction in the
world, and a multitude of offspring, and the destruction of men; in
Taunts, it signifies good things for the earth, and that the rising will be
much and the water polluted, and that there will be deaths of the young;
in Gemini, it signifies deaths for the whole inhabited world, and the
Nile will come up moderately.

Zeus in Cancer in the season of the rising of Sirius shows that the
king is not true to his friends, and that there will be rising and a good
yield of grain; in Leo, it shows that the king will be afflicted and that
a friend rejects him in death, and that there will be rising and
inundations, and blight on barley and rice-wheat; in Virgo and Libra
and Scorpio, it signifies that the king of Egypt will leave his throne
behind and will be unsettled and that his women are braver, and there
will be offspring in the outer places; in Sagittarius, it signifies
unsettlement and that the rising will be in good order; in Capricorn, it
will reveal that someone makes hostile demonstrations against the king
and he will conquer, and that the king will flee by day and will
withdraw; in Aquarius, it shows that the king will be mighty, and that
there wiU be rising and villainy of one of the king’s retinue; in Pisces,
it signifies that the rising will be suitable and there will be a death of
a king, and in die land of Elymais there will be the destruction of
farmers; in Aries, that the rising will be great and seasonable, and that
the leader of Syria will perish; in Taurus, it indicates good things and
a multitude of flocks; in Gemini, that the rising will be seasonable, but
it will be weak.

Should the star of Ares happen to be in Cancer during the rising of
Sirius, it will produce a rising that is seasonable, the destruction of a
superior person, drought in the outer parts; in Leo, a liberality of fruits,
and a rising that is late; in Virgo, matters in Syria and in Egypt will be
well; in Libra, it signifies a moderate rising and a good yield of dry
grains, and death for those who conceive; in Scorpio, it signifies
pestilence in Egypt and thunder and hail; in Sagittarius, it will produce
instability in Syria; in Capricorn, it will produce a great rising, and the
crocodiles wiU cease much of their savagery, and the death of a
sacrificial victim, and famine throughout the region; in Pisces, death of
the king, and a rising after the new blossoming; in Aries, it signifies

56

that the leader of the land of Elymais will die and his children will not
succeed him; in Taurus, it reveals moderate rising and good yield, and
that the gods will receive prayers will favor; in Gemini, it signifies that
Syria will be unsettled and there will be lack of rain.

When the star of Aphrodite happens to be in Gemini in the season
of the stars' rising, it signifies that the rising will be sufficient and there
will be plenty of pulse; in Cancer, it signifies good things in Egypt and
rising and the destmction of leaders; in Leo, the assembling of the
masses, and the lightening of prices; in Virgo, an abundance of dry
grains, and the increase in the female sex and an increase in adultery.

When the star of Hermes is in Gemini at the rising of Sirius, there
will be moderate rising and happiness amongst the people, and the king
will prevail; in Cancer, it reveals sacrileges and sins; in Leo, rising and
much grain; in Virgo, the sowing will be fine and seasonable and there
will be strength in the ruler of Syria.

From what has been said, one must make the commixtures of
effects whenever they (or some of them) should happen to be in the
same zoidion in the season of the stars' rising. When the Moon happens
to be with Kronos in the rising of Sirius, the zoidion upon which they
are found signifies for the land with which it is associated that it will
be ruined with war and pestilence and the animals brought forth; when
the Moon is with Zeus, it shows the death of great men, peace, and
good yield; with Ares, that there will be a black bilious pestilence and
war and conflagrations; with Aphrodite, illnesses and abortions of
women; with Hermes, it signifies that the season will be unwholesome
to the young and adolescent. One must investigate with what country
the zoidion is associated and in one sort of limb it is taken and in this
way make conjectures about diseases. And furthermore, one must
survey the relaxations and intensifications from the lights' of the Moon,
and the phases and powers of the stars.

Furthermore, if as the Egyptians are keeping watch at the arising
of Sirius, thunder occurs from the first till the seventh hour, there will
be utter affliction and barrenness in Egypt, and the inundations will be
irregular and the air wintry. When the star has risen great and white and
lacking in color, it signifies that the floods for the Nile will be great and
there will be a good yield, but when it is fiery and ochre-red, there will
be war. If while it is great, the stars which are proximate to it should

'resumably its phases.

57

be dark, there will be famine; but when it is small and pale along with
the neighboring stars, the rising will also be small and there will be a
scarcity of fruits over the whole earth. If a short, cloud-like line is
observed making a section from the star to the east, and if the extremity
of the line should be fiery, there will be disturbance and the lesser of
the rulers will overcome the greater; but if the line is made fiery and
long while making a section from the south to the north, and the
extremity should be like a lamp, it signifies war and death for the whole
country.

24. Concerning the Colors in Eclipses and Comets

One must also observe the colors during the ecUpses, either those of the
fights themselves or of the structures that occur around them, such as
shafts or the like. For, when they appear dark or sallow, it becomes
indicative of what was said for the nature of Kronos; when white, of
what was said for the nature of Zeus; reddish, for the namre of Ares;
yeUow, for the nature of Aphrodite; multi-colored, for the nature of
Hermes. And if the color should appear in the whole of the bodies or
of the places surrounding them, the event will concern the greatest
parts' of the countries, but if the color should appear in a part, the event
will concern that part alone^ along which is the inclination^ of the
property.

‘ This is somewhat ambiguous. It may mean the greatest regions of the
countries in question, or it may refer to the greatest part of the zoidion (that is,
the zoidion regarded more or less as a whole), to which is subject a certain
country. (Remember that in the discussion of the zoidia the country tulerships
were assigned first in general, that is, according to the zoidion as a whole, and
then according to separate parts of the zoidion.) This first interpretation is
perhaps more grammatically natural; however, the second seems to make better
sense of the upcoming reference to inclination.

^ As in the previous note 1, this could mean either a particular part of a
country, or else the particular country subject to a particular portion of the

^ prosneusis. This seems to be the great circle drawn through the celestial
poles and the part of the eclipse where the color is, which “inclines” or is
oblique to the ecliptic. Cf. the end of section 5. Or it may refer to the place
where this circle cuts the horizon.

58

For the general conditions, one must also observe how the surfaces'
of the comets arc solidified^ either at the time of an eclipse or at any
time whatever, such as the surfaces of the so-called Planks, Trumpets,
Casks, and such like, as being by nature productive of the [properties]
of Ares and Hermes, of wars and scorching conditions and the
concomitants to these. And they indicate through the parts of the zodiac
at which their solidifications,^ as it were, appear, and through the
inclinations of the hair by figure, the places upon which the event falls.
And through the shapes of the solidifications, as it were, they indicate
the species of the effect and the genus for which the affect will ensue.
And through the time that they endure, the duration of the events. And
through the their relation to the Sun, the commencement, since when
they appear in the east, they signify a quick commencement, and when
they appear in the west tardy one.

Of comets, one is called Horseman,'' a sacred star of Aphrodite,
having the magnitude of the Moon when it is full, quick in motion,
glittering in itself when it has the mane and the extremity behind, and
it is bom in the same direction through the twelve zoidia in the cosmos;
and when it appears it brings about the quick fall of kings and tyrants
and rapid changes in the affairs of these countries at which it is
deprived of its hair.

The Sword Fish,^ belonging to the star of Hermes, appears mighty
and rather sallow, having oval rays around it. When it makes it
appearance in the orient, it signifies a plot and poisonings for the king
of the Persians and Assyrians by his satraps; when it appears in the
Occident, it makes a similar revelation for the inhabitants to the west.

The Torch,® belonging to the star of Ares, is quite large and fiery,
similar to flickering torches. When it appears turned around toward the
east, it signifies drought in Persia and Syria, and thunderbolts, the
destruction of fruits, and conflagrations in the royal courts; when it
appears turned around to the south, it signifies affliction for the

' epiphaneia.

^ sumstamenos. This refers to the comet head acquiring a clear form with

' Hippeus.

* Xiphias.

® Lampadias.

59

inhabitants in Libya and Egypt, likewise also a multitude of shields;
when turn tq the west, it again indicates these afflictions for the
inhabitants.

The Comet' is said to be of Zeus in nature, appears somewhat meek
and only shines in the mane, and it is silvery and twinkles a great deal
so as not to look straight in the face, and it has a male face in it, of god
so it seems, whence wherever it should rise and verge, if it is in Cancer
or Scorpio or Ksces, it signifies the good benefits of Zeus.

The one with the name of Disk,^ being of Kxonos, is round and has
an amber color similar to Kronos, and is amorphous. Rays are scattered
around its periphery, and it is of one face and is similarly disposed for
every clime. For, it incites wars of every sort in every country, and
produces the death of a great king and lowers the reputation of the
authorities.

There is another comet, rose-like and great, rather circular, and it
is called Midwife,’ having the face of a maiden, having its rays golden
in the circle of the head, sweet in aspect, similar in color to a mixture
of silver and gold, and it signifies the cutting down of men and the
change of matters for the better and a quittance for those who have lain
down together.

There is another comet, the titan who is called Typhon,"
exceedingly harsh and fiery, amorphous and slow-moving. It has more
hair more behind, but it is accustomed to follow the Sun in the
extremities of the northern pole. When it has appeared, it is the cause
of much affliction, the destruction of fruits and of kings both during
rising and during setting.

The Planks’ and Bearded Stars,’ along with others, are assembled
outside of the zodiac in the northern part.

' Kometes.

’ Diskeus,

’ Eilethuias.

’ Dokides.

’ Pogoniai.

60

25. Concerning the Signiflcance of Meteorological Phenomena'

Careful observations of the [signs]’ that arise around the Sun, Moon,
and other stars are useful for the particular prognostications of what is
indicated. One must observe the Sun upon its rising, then, for the
conditions in the day, but upon its setting for the conditions at night.
And one must observe the figurations to the Moon for the extended
conditions, since for the most part each figure foretells the condition
until the next. For, when the Sun rises or sets clear, unobscured, stable,
and unclouded, it is indicative of fair conditions. But if it has its disk
multi-colored or reddish, or sends out red rays, either outwardly or as
circling back upon itself, or has the so-called parheliac clouds’ on one
side, or yellowish cloud formations and, as it were, long drawn out rays,
it is indicative of severe winds. And if it has its disk dark or sallow
when it is rising or setting with clouds, or has one or two halos around
it, or parheliac clouds on both sides and sallow or dark rays, it is
indicative of storms and rain.

One must observe the Moon while it passes through conjunctions,
whole moons, or quarters, for three days before or three days after. For,
when it appears thin and clear and has nothing around it, it is indicative
of fine weather. But if it is thin and red and has the whole disk of the
unilluminated part distinct and a little shaky, it is indicative of winds,
especially of those towards which it makes its inclination. And if it is
seen to be dark or sallow or thick, it is indicative of wintry and stormy
conditions. One must also observe the halos that are made around the
Moon. For, if there should be one, and it is clear and gradually wasting
away, it signifies fine weather. But if there should be two or three, it is
indicative of storms. If they are yellowish and as it were broken, they
show winds during these storms. And as for the Moon generally
speaking, whenever it is bright and clear, it is indicative of fair weather;
whenever red, of wind; whenever dark and gloomy, of water.

Also, the halos which assemble around the wandering stars, and the
bright, non-wandering stars, indicate what is appropriate to their colors
and to the natures of the enclosed stars.

' All but the second to the last paragraph of this section is a close
paraphrase of the last section in Book II of the Tetrabiblos.

’ Not zodiacal signs but signs denoting ‘indicators’. [RH]

’ Known to us as “Sun-Dogs.” [RH]

61

Of the non-wandering stars which are near together in a group, we
must carefully observe the colors and the magnitudes. For, if they look
brighter and larger beyond their cu,stomary appearance, wherever they
are they signify winds from the appropriate place. And of the cloud-like
clusters of invisible stars, such as Praesepe and such like, whenever in
clear weather the structures are seen to be faint and as it were invisible
though thickened, it is indicative of a load of water; hut if they are clear
and continually twinkling, they are indicative of much wind. And of the
stars called the Asses on either side of Praesepe, whenever the northern
ass should be invisible, it signifies that the north wind will blow; if the
southern ass, the south wind.

Of the phenomena in the sky that come about from time to time,
clusters of comets always foretell droughts and winds, and great ones
insofar as the solid mass is made of more comets and reaches over a
great expanse. If rushing and shooting stars should originate from one
angle, they point to a wind from that angle; but if from opposite angles,
they point to an instability of winds; and if from the four angles, storms
of all kinds. Likewise, when there are clouds similar to tufts of wool,
it will sometimes show storms beforehand. And the rainbows that form
from time to time signify beforehand storms from clear weather, but
clear weather from storms.

In clear weather, when fine clouds like spider webs are bom along,
it indicates that the air will be powerfully cold all around. But when the
air is clear and cloudless and without mist, and the Moon is under the
earth, whenever the stars should suddenly become faint, they signify
storms. Whenever a meteor' should appear in the heaven over a
flame-colored interval, as if kindled, it signifies war. When the heaven
appears extremely dark, it signifies the drying up of rivers and cisterns;
if it appears sallow, it signifies the desfruction of masters. When two
Suns, as it were, appear from the parheliac clouds, it signifies that two
kings will have against one another, and at the cUme where the greater
appeared, he will be victorious. When the Sun appears deep-blue while
rising, it signifies famine and pestilence for the whole earth. Fogs in the
mountains cause stillness; those pouring down and dispersing cause a
north or northwest wind. When spring or autumn droughts appear in the
west, they foretell a northwest wind; in the east, an east wind. And
winds beat back every storm except from the east, and they call that one

' phlox. Literally, a flame.

62

forth before its time. However, when the peaks of mountains echo in
fair weather, they signify the production of winds. Similarly also,
sea-coast promontories echoing in fair weather call down a sea wind;
and when there is much wind, if the swell does not vomit forth
violently, it indicates that the storm will be of long durations.

And a great many other things were observed by the ancients for
prognostication, but I believe these are sufficient for the prognostication
of the remainder. And let the theory of universal inquiries have been
summarily outlined by us to such an extent based on the things said by
tbe ancients. We will begin with the genethlialogical kind in the
following sections in keeping with the appropriate sequence, and with
a conciseness similar to what has gone before.

End of the first book.

63

Appendix I

Translation Conventions

The following words consistently translate the indicated Greek word.

ruler, rulership: oikodespotes, oikodespoteia
ruler: kurios

master, mastership: despotes, despoteia

-lord: -krator (as in horatokrator, lord of boundaries)

-steward: -dektor (as in oikodektor, steward of the house)
co-ruler: sunoikodespotes, see notes to chapter 13.

zoidion: zoidion (See General Notes in Paulus Alexandrinus and
Vettius Valens Book I.)

place: topos (See General Note in Paulus Alexandrinus.)

sect: hairesis
boundaries: horia
face: prosopon

trigon: trigonon, i.e, triplicity.
house: oikos

kinship, familarity, congeniaUty: oikeiosis.
affiliation: sunoikeiosis.
dwelling: oikotir
exaltation: hupsoma
depression: tapeinoma

figure; schema
figuration: schematismos
configuration: suschematismos
to figure: schematizo
to configure: suschematizo

to come to the attention of (by application, etc): hupodedeiktai

east: heoios (also sometimes translated as ‘morning’)

west: hesperios (also sometimes translated as ‘evening’)

oriental: anatolikos

orient: amtole (sometimes in plural)

occidental: dutikos

64

Occident: dusmos (sometimes in plural)

to contemplate: theoreo

to regard: epitheoreo

to scrutinize: katopteuo

to testify or bear witness to: epimarturo

All four of the above words appear to refer to aspect relationships. The
words theoreo and katopteuo refer to aspects in either direction, i.e.,
into preceding and succeeding signs. However, katopteuo seems to have
a negative overtone suggesting that it refers particularly to difficult
aspects. The word epitheoreo is limited to aspects into the succeeding
signs but, like theoreo, can refer to both difficult and good aspects.

hurling of rays: aktinobole
superiority: kathuperteresis

to tithe (in the active sense of to levy a tax): epidekateuo

horoskopos: horoskopos

to mark the birth-hour: horoskoped

to divide the hour: Horonomed See the General Note to the Anony-

midheaven: mesouranema
to culminate: mesouraned

pivot: kentron
pre-ascension: proanophora
post-ascension: epanophora
decline: apoklima

rise: anatelld
arise: epitelld

hide: kruptd

co-rise: paranatelld See General Note in the Anonymous.

ascend, (of nodes): anabibazd

descend, (of nodes): katabibazd

contact: kollesis

application: sunaphe

65

separation: apporoia
circumambulation: peripatos

degree: moira (See General Notes in Paulus Alexandrinus and Vettius
Valens Book I.)

monomoiria: monomoiria (See the sections in Paulus Alexandrinus on
monomoiria.)

crisis: klimakter

to take delight in, rejoice: chairo
to have dealings with: chrematiw

Such dealings evidently include any or all of the administrative or
governing functions (i.e,, dispositions) performed by the planetary ruler,
master, lord or steward. Possibly tbe planet's role as spear bearer, and
any configuration it enters into.

enclosure: perischesis
containment: emperischesis

illustratiofl: hupodeigma

A somewhat irregular word for ‘example’, that has just a trace of ‘sign’
image: eikon

Another irregular word for example that may have the sense of a
visualization.

occupancy: Epochs See the General Note in the Anonymous,
under bond: sundesmos.

Literally, that which ties together. Evidently a more general kind of
connection than conjunction (sunodos). See Paulus, Chapter 35.

commencement: katarche

66

beginning: arche

67

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